My daughter seems to be very musically inclined. This is not one of the things she’s received from me.
Throughout the years, she’s played the piano, sings, has/had an interest in violin, guitar, and ukulele.
She has been encouraged in each of these areas whenever her taste has changed.
Most recently, she opted for clarinet as her instrument of choice in school.
As they have been diligently practicing for an upcoming event with both morning and afternoon extra lessons, this is one of the things she’s most excited about in school.
She’s also much of a self starter. She’ll find an app and then teach herself how to do certain things. This week, to my surprise, she found the song ‘Hallelujah’ and started playing it.
As I listened to her play, I got teary eyed. Both because of my love for the song, but realizing the prayer that God answered when I gave birth to her at 31 weeks. For reference, 40 weeks is full term.
When I suddenly got ill during my pregnancy, and I was told they would have to deliver me early, I had one prayer: that the Lord would develop her lungs quickly.
Based on my research and knowledge, I knew that the lungs would be one of those things that was not fully developed yet. The doctors started me on steroid treatment and in two days, started inducing labor.
When they delivered her, I cried. My mom who was beside me, couldn’t understand why I was crying as she tried to comfort me. The baby was screaming her lungs out. Through my tears, I explained to her how much of a miracle that was and that I was crying tears of joy. I knew that that much crying meant her lungs were developed enough, and God had answered my prayers. Even though they whisked her away before I saw her, I knew she would be ok.
Fast forward ten and a half years, and my tears returned in gratitude as I listened to her blow and hold the notes for the song as she played her clarinet.
God is still in the miracle working business.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of my daughter. Thank you for the many talents you have given her. Help her to use them wisely and to serve you with them. Thank you for all the lessons you continue to teach us.