Yesterday. Three things on the schedule. A Christmas party with old friends, a meeting I didn't want to attend right after the party, and leading worship by myself for a group at church that night. Just before I left for the party, the meeting I was dreading got cancelled. Driving to the party, I prayed my usual prayer that God would use me, speak through me, love through me. Had a great time at the party and reconnected with a friend I haven't talked with in awhile.
On the way home, I was thankful for a some unexpected free time before worship that night. I had been practicing, and the Lord had given me a song list, so I wasn't feeling nervous about it, but I had a strange urge to go to the church and practice. I still hadn't decided whether I was going to or not, but the car just sort of drove itself there, so I went with it. My feet took me to a door that I don't usually use, and right inside it was the new cleaning lady that I'd met only once a few months ago. I felt like I should tell her she was doing a good job, so I did that and started heading for the piano, but her face stopped me. She was crying.
I went around the table and wrapped her up in a big hug. She told me some stuff, including the fact that she was thinking about quitting and had been feeling pressured and unappreciated and needing a hug. I gave her a pep talk, prayed for her, invited her to take a break and come and sing with me. Worship always makes everyone feel better. She shyly said that she happened to bring her guitar. I said, "Go get your guitar and I'll get you a music stand, and we're going to have a worship party." So we did.
Becky has a beautiful voice, a talent for guitar, and an incredible gift for harmonizing. I asked her if she could teach me to sing harmony like that. She said, "You just sing the note above or below the melody, and it's like two dolphins swimming together one on top of the other." What a beautiful image! Her dolphin swam so gracefully with mine. I could feel the anointing. I invited her to lead worship with me that night, and she said, "Can you come a little early so we can practice again?" Music to my ears.
I came home for a few hours and went back early, and there was Becky, ready to practice. We did the songs that God had suggested to me earlier in the week, and I felt His presence strongly. Then the leader of the group asked if I would do this song I'd written called "Peace" because she wanted to use it as the theme song for their study. Ah...a chance to put into practice the spontaneity that God has been working on with me. I happened to have my book of music next to me, and I opened it, hoping to find the music to this song. It was right on top, AND there were two copies of it! I handed one to Becky and said, "It's a simple song. You'll figure it out." She immediately did just that. What a gift she has! It was delightful to hear harmony with the song I wrote.
Hours after I got home, I was still basking in the glow of the whole day, and I looked out my window and saw the biggest snowflakes I'd ever seen, gushing down from the sky in a glorious downpour. There was no snow in the forecast, and it had just been raining. As I stood there staring at it, Sarah walked down the hall on her way to bed. I said, "Sarah, look at this snow!" and she came and stood at the window with me. Then she said, "Do you want to go outside and admire it?" My heart filled up with love for her at that moment. Less than a minute later, we were standing in the middle of the street, late at night, twirling in the snow, catching it on our tongues, marveling at the size of it. God's blessings showering down on us. What a wonderful day!
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