Moms! Let it Go and Let it Grow!

I'm sitting at my desk in Radiology at Children's Hospital and hear playing "Let it Go" on the tv monitors in the waiting room. How many times have I heard that song from "Frozen" and from messages I've heard about letting unnecessary stuff go?

But, this day, I'm thinking about Mother's Day and from what I've learned, "What would I tell my 18-year-old self when I first became a young mom?" I would tell her: "You may be new at this but practice makes perfect so LET IT GROW!"

I wasn't athletically inclined. No sports for me. Though I wanted to be "that" girl who stood out and won awards for her team, I didn't even try to go there. But, athleticism kicked in for me many years later when I started running. I learned that God made our bodies in a way that we can't expect to be an athlete with only an "I wish I could" mentality. Years ago, a group of us walked the 5K in honor of my husband who couldn't walk at all. After that, my son's marathon trainer said: "Your son's long, athletic legs came from you! It's time for you to start running!" At first, I thought she was kidding or crazy, but before long I started training. It started with building endurance. Then I was ready to run a mile. The first day I walked and ran, the next day I walked a little faster, and eventually, I could run a mile. Before long, I was ready to run my first 13.5-mile half-marathon.

I wish someone would have told me about endurance in motherhood! It takes endurance, practice, work, consistency, and exhaustion to grow into mothering with wisdom and maturity and grace and gentleness. I found the more I practiced, the stronger I became, step by step, slow and steady, learning, doing, listening to older moms, staying closely knit with the Lord and relying on His Holy Spirit, the better I got.

There is a reason Scripture talks about older women teaching younger women (Titus 2:4-5) to keep on and that's what this older woman is saying to you today, precious moms! You are NOT failing! It takes time and work and sweat and tears. When I say, it gets better, I don’t just mean it gets easier because your kids sleep and are more self-sufficient (although sleep is awesome). It gets better because you get better. You mature. You grow in grace. You are acting out of what you have been given by God. You have been molded and tested, and if you keep on, you will make it. So get your running shoes, pace yourself (oh my goodness, pace yourself), and keep on. You are NOT failing! I'm not saying "Let it go". I am saying "Let it grow!" You're not alone. God is cheering you on and so am I!

James 1:2-4 confirms what God is telling us: "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So LET IT GROW for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

Practice and Practice Makes Perfect

I thoroughly enjoyed the TV show “Little Big Shots” with Steve Harvey, as the most incredible talents were revealed by the youngest children. Case in point: Four-year old Evan Le who “picked up” the piano only a few months before and played “The Flight of the Bumblebee” masterfully. (I posted the link below if you’d like to see it. It’s hilarious AND amazing!) I can understand how methodical training, coupled with guidance from parents and teachers, and personal determination and drive – the faster and the younger the children are in becoming accomplished musicians or whatever they are given to learn.

On a personal note, I started taking piano lessons when I was 8 years old. The first thing I learned was how to read the notes on a page and associate those notes to the keys on the piano. Then I learned how to look at the music and pay attention to my fingers at the same time. That sounds like a lot of coordination is involved, and, yes, it is -- eyes, fingers, ears, and a good brain. But as I practiced and practiced (for years -- much longer than kids today), something remarkable happened. Not only was I able, by instinct, to play what I was seeing, but before long, I even had music memorized and I was able to play by memory. All those lessons and all that practice served me well over the years as I played the piano and organ for our church and our quartet that itinerated around the U.S. and Canada.

Learning to play the piano (or any instrument) takes time, determination, practice and consistency. And that's the way it is with anything that we want to accomplish in life -- whether it be in learning to cook or a new language, being good at a sport, dance, or even in being a better husband/wife, parent, friend, employee or neighbor.

Let's say we really do want to be caring and giving. Maybe we've been "all about me" for far too long, and now we're ready for change. First we get a plan of action (like I had to with learning to read the notes and keys). Every day we think about how we can be more kind and generous to our spouse or neighbor or work associates. Then we determine to carry out that plan (just as I practiced over and over). We practice by offering to help someone with something they are having to do (i.e., clean out a garage, help an associate with meeting a deadline, take care of a neighbor's kids, tutor a child, offer to help at a local charity, etc.). And we keep on practicing those caring and giving habits. All of a sudden, by instinct -- by second nature -- we are living out what we put into practice. We become the one that raises our hand when someone asks for help -- just instinctively. We can't help it -- it's second nature.

Indeed....practice makes perfect in just about everything we hope to excel in -- in life -- and that holds true to practicing love, harmony, faith, good attitude, consideration for others, and generosity.

Here’s that darling video of Steve Harvey and Evan Le: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnXT8SY4-9Q
#PracticeMakesPerfect

That's What Papa Said

This photo is of my sweet husband and grandson, Payton (who is now 14). Payton and Papa had a special bond -- in particular, they both loved to fish and loved to play the piano. This is an excerpt from Payton's published book (he was ten years old when he wrote it, and just after his Papa went to heaven), "That's What Papa Said".

"I've been playing the piano since I was four years old. My mom says that I just hopped up on the stool one day and started playing and didn't want to stop. That's when she put me in lessons to see if I would really want to play. And I did! Of all our family, only Papa and I can really play the piano so it makes me feel like I have a part of him in me. Papa was a great pianist and he could sit down at the piano, and play almost anything.

When I was four, Mom bought me a big white grand piano from my Papa. We only had the piano for two weeks when I thought it needed decorations. I was just learning to play the piano and didn't know better, but I took a black permanent marker and drew pictures all over it. I thought my pictures were really pretty but when Mom came in and saw what I was doing, she wasn't so proud. She cried, "NO!" and immediately picked me up and moved me away from the piano, and called Papa for some advice.

Thank goodness, Papa gave Mom the idea to use Windex to clean the marker off the piano. It all came off and was as good as new. When Papa heard about it, he wasn't mad. He just told me, "Everyone makes mistakes every now and then."

That's what Papa said.

I remember my first recital when I played "Jingle Bells". I was still just four years old. I was the youngest player there and when I was done, I was awarded with a mini Mozart statute. I was very excited that day. We picked up the phone and called Papa. He was so proud of me when he heard I did great. He told me to just keep playing the piano and never quit. Papa said, "God has GREAT plans for you."

That's what Papa said.

When I was around seven years old, I had a song that I was learning called "Ode to Joy." I had to practice very day. When I would play that song, I would cry and cry through the whole song because it was really hard and I didn't want to practice. My Mom sat me down and said, "Why are you crying through a song called "Ode to Joy?" It is a song about being happy!" Papa heard that I was crying through the song because I didn't want to practice. That is when Papa told me, "Keep practicing because practice makes perfect!"

That's what Papa said.

Three years later, when all of the boys in my school were playing sports, I felt kind of left out because I was the last one to be picked on the field. I didn't know much about sports and hadn't practiced football because I love piano and fishing so much. I told Papa about it one day and he told me, "You can only play those sports for a few years, Champion, but you can play the piano and go fishing for the rest of your life!"

That's what Papa said.

When I think of all the things that Papa said, it reminds me of how great he really was. Before he went to heaven, he said a few things that I will never forget. He said, "Love God with all your heart! Sit up straight when you play the piano. Believe in yourself. Keep going even if you don't succeed. Be patient! Never be afraid. Practice makes perfect! God has great plans for you. Be confident, and no matter what, never, ever, ever give up!"

That's what Papa said."

Now, this is back to Donna, and to add my final words. At Papa's memorial service, 10 year old Payton played "Fleur De Lis" on the piano. It was a sweet and tender moment......we knew Papa was looking down at us from heaven and smiling sweetly at his protege. His legacy continues.

The question is....."Are we influencing those around us to be better, braver, stronger and wiser? Don't we want our words and actions to be those that make a positive, indelible imprint upon those around us?"

That's what Papa did.