The Sweet Sounds From a Tuned Piano

SURPRISE!!! Happy Birthday, Payton! Yesterday was my #3 grandson's (in order of birth-dates) 16th birthday. That morning, I sent him a text that said, "I wish I were there to celebrate your birthday today, but we'll make up for it while we're fishing next week!" So, it was a big surprise when he came home from spending the night with a friend and saw me. I loved the outdoor decor' that made this day a really big deal for him.

What was an even bigger surprise than his Nana and the yard decor', was the gift his Mom and Dad gave him....a new ebony baby grand piano. Payton is a gifted pianist and though he's had a lovely antique baby grand, the sound and touch of this one takes his gift to a whole new level. The piano was delivered yesterday morning before Payton came home and when the technician played it, there was a key slightly off, so we watched him take the piano completely apart. It was quite the sight -- we'd never seen before.

All those intricate parts, when aligned so precisely, provide such beautiful tones for anyone who knows the art of playing. But if one of those parts is out of order, as beautiful as the other keys are, that one makes the others appear out of order as well. Once he pulled all the guts out, made just the slightest adjustments, bada bing bada boom, exquisite tones came from that piano. It became a masterpiece of artistry and engineering in their home.

That made me think about God's masterpiece creation, you and me. When we are in "tune" with our creator -- and being who He created us to be, we make beautiful, harmonious sounds and movements. He takes pleasure in hearing our praises and songs of joy to Him. But when His creation is "off" -- like our attitude that exudes negativity, anger, complaining, crankiness or are just plain out-of-sorts, then who He destined us to be, is not expressing the creator's intentions for His intricately designed, one-of-a-kind original. That's the time we need the Master Technician to tune us up, work us over, turn us inside out, and, though it may be painful, He will create in us the ability to make the most beautiful music that will touch the hearts of those around us with His love, His joy, His peace. We just need to submit to the Master Technician. We need to “Let go and let God” come visit us. Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."

The Master Musician & Master Craftsman = Restoration of Things....and People

"Before & After" photos of a very used, scratched and abused piano bench -- the accompanying piece to the baby grand piano that my grandson had been praying for. Neither piece is new, but when Payton plays it, it sounds like a Steinway -- at least in this Nana's ears. And his Mom restored the piano to beautiful condition and it has a prominent place now in the Wallace Family home.

But, that poor piano bench looked beyond hope. Staci's plans were to go out yesterday and buy a new bench, but, I told her we could "restore" that damaged and pitiful bench to look brand new. We set out to buy some foam, fabric, paint, and stapler gun, and whoa la -- in just a little while -- that's what you see here.

The piano looks and sounds great, and its bench looks great, too. It just took the touch of a musician and the craftsmanship of two "crafty" women!
That makes me think of those of us who had been used, abused, or unused and neglected -- forgotten and beyond hope. But then along came the Master Musician and made a beautiful symphony of our lives.....and He restored us and turned all our brokenness into something of beauty. And, better than just "restored".....we were made to be BRAND NEW. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

This beautiful "Gaither" song explains it perfectly:

And He made something beautiful, something good,
All my confusion, He understood,
All I had to offer Him, was brokenness and strife,
But He made something -- beautiful of my life.