Instruments of Joy

Are you a fan of Live Music? There's just something about watching musicians perform and listening to live music that is especially satisfying!  Listening to my adult daughter, Carole, play the piano today - just for fun - was a real treat for me.  Although all of my daughters took piano lessons growing up, she's the only one that has stayed with it (also the only one with a piano at home!).

When done well, I enjoy all types of music.  You name it, country, classical, gospel, bluegrass, rock & roll - I enjoy them all.  One time, I thought I would like to learn to play a guitar.  My friend, Sue, loaned me her guitar, and another friend, Mary Lou, loaned me her learn-to-play-the-guitar books.  Then I realized that to play the guitar effectively, a person would develop 'calluses' on their fingers.  And I was an organist/pianist at church.  I didn't want to diminish what I knew how to do fairly well to try something that would take years to learn.  So I returned the guitar to Sue; Mary Lou didn't want her books.

Two Christmases ago, I was fortunate to hear a live performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Christmastime.  It is given somewhere in town every year, but I don't want anything to be so familiar I won't enjoy it.  I originally sung in my high school choir and learned it.  So many years had passed since I heard the last "Messiah" concert that it was nearly totally fresh to me.  It was so beautiful, tears came to my eyes.  The experience was actually pleasurable to my ears!  It was perfect!

What about us - you and me?  Can we consider that we, ourselves, are "Instruments of Joy?"  Do we spread joy everywhere we go with our positive attitude, hard work, acceptance, lack of gossip, encouragement, and LOVE?  Just like good music bringing unmeasurable joy, we can bring joy also!

Lord, we ask You to bring out the very, very best in us!  Never let us be too tired, too sad, too anything, to notice the persons we're with, and spread Your immense happiness and love!