Today my daughter, Hannah, played in her twelfth violin recital. I must admit I was one proud dad when she played Scene de Ballet by Belgian violinist and composer, Charles Auguste de Beriot. It seemed as though the sheet music had more black notes on a page than imaginable, but Hannah played as though she was a part of the music itself. I truly felt she played magnificently.
But, I begin to think about her abilities compared to when she started at age five and brought home her first cardboard violin. As a former musician myself, I could appreciate her diligence—lesson after lesson and daily practice after daily practice. Hannah made an obvious decision to work on her lessons with a sense of commitment toward the final goal of playing her pieces well. Through the years she has gained exceptional grace and skill through wonderful teachers and a discipline to consistently work at playing to the best of her ability.
As I approach the golden years of life, I seem to reflect back on life a bit more than when I was twenty-something. Today was no exception. So many people today want immediate success, wealth, influence, prominence, or a myriad of other rewards that only come with right decisions, discipline, hard work, and lifelong commitment. Looking back over my own life, I can see where my diligence paid off, where wrong decisions caused me to fail, and the many people who blessed me in spite of myself by being a part of my life’s journey.
There was a long period of my life where the decisions I made caused me a lot of tribulation! But thankfully, I finally found true fullness in life when I allowed Jesus Christ room in my heart. In the Bible, Jesus told his disciples—and us—in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” It’s nice to know that in the craziness of life—there can be peace. I hope you’ll make a right decision to let Jesus Christ into your life—and then discipline yourself to stay committed to him for the rest of your life. It’s a life that will be magnificently played and well rewarded in the life to come.
God’s Best!
Marshall
