Gratitude: Growing Older and Singing His Praises

For a few minutes before our youth choir sang, while kids played a game of catch with ones confined to wheelchairs, I sat down at the piano.

Playing hymns for those who could not leave to go to churches they had lived their lives in.

I heard someone singing near me.

She knew every word of every song as I leafed through the pages of the hymnbook.

Suddenly a woman rolled up between the piano and the sweet voice. She sat there staring at me for a few seconds.
Speaking to no one in particular, she loudly burst forth with;

“Is she going to play every song in that book? She’s going to play every song in that book.”

I continued playing and concentrated on listening to the Soloist.

I decided I was going to keep playing just for her. She was clearly enjoying it.

The Complainer turned herself toward me and edged her wheelchair a little closer and shouted,

“Can’t you turn that thing down?”

I tried to play a bit quieter but the keys were sluggish and required more pressure than normal, it was difficult to play at all much less quietly.

My Soloist continued to sing every word, continuing to praise the Lord and chose to ignore the distraction.

When it was time for the choir to begin, the Complainer started in on our choir director.

“What are they here for?”

Our graceful leader cheerfully answered, “We are here to sing for you all tonight.”

“How many songs are they going to sing? I hope you aren’t going to sing all night. Who are you? Where did you come from?”

We began to sing and the Complainer grew louder even though she had turned her attention to digging for something beside her in her wheelchair. A nursing assistant came to help her and after a few hushed words the assistant rolled her to someplace where she would be happier.

I thought about the difference between the two and I want to be the Soloist when I grow old.
I hope I will still be singing the praises of my Lord when I come to that point in my life.

Then I thought, what about right now?

Which am I most often? Sadly, not the Soloist.

Which one are you?

Are you a Soloist or a Complainer?

Which one do you want to be?

::

Continuing to count the grace gifts He showers me with each day…

1839. When the blend of voices gives you goosebumps

1840. the Apple guy who solved some issues with a calm voice

1841. the littlest wants to watch a “godly video” as she put it

1842. an afternoon filled with laughter…

1843. …sunshine

1844. …good food

1845. …great fellowship

1846. …my 3-legged foot race companion

1847. … we almost won!

1848. finishing the afternoon with a text chat with a good friend

1849. receiving a photo of her beach

1850. an evening listening to stories around the bonfire

1851. fresh deep fried turkey… and snitching the best parts while it is being carved up…

1852. …crispy skin!!

1853.  He gives his sister his shoes so she can walk back home

1854. the gurgling of the coffee pot breaking the morning silence

1855. She snuggles up close while we read Little House on the Prairie

1856. he is enticed into reading the book I’ve been suggesting for a very long time

1857. he lays down next to her and reads to her before she falls asleep

1858. four deer bounding through the yard while I type this out

1859. five deer grazing in the backyard, quietly enjoying breakfast

1860. I LOVE WHERE I LIVE!

1861. delightful surprise of a bouquet waiting on the table

1862. ever attentive dogs

1863. My father’s sense of humor (not to worry… it is just hamburger, I am not preparing for some weird wild game feast)

1864. suspended in mid-air, every little hair in focus (sorry Mom)

1865. Les Miserables, THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST, they love the powerful voices weaving in and out, blending together, and singing counter-melodies against each other (no worries- I have ‘edited’ out the not-so-nice songs in iTunes) Guess my two favorite songs in the comments below.

1866. Carmel trying to learn penmanship

1867. she loves school at home, on the porch, on the floor….