While on the computer last night I was listening to music, and for the umpteenth time I thought about how much I would love to play the piano. And, for the umpteenth time, I chided myself for never taking the time to learn to play my favorite musical instrument.
My love for the piano goes back to my childhood. When we were kids, my sister, older than me by two years, was at great expense to my single, working mother, given piano lessons. I was about eight at the time, and wasn't particularly impressed with her music lessons until several months later when I attended one of her sessions. When I saw the music teachers' fingers gliding over those keys, and heard the beautiful sounds that ensued, I fell in love on the spot. I just had to learn to play.
After a while, my sister grew bored and stopped taking the lessons. I thought ... here's my chance. Now, imagine me at eight trying to convince my mother that she should invest more money and time (both in short supply), on piano lessons for me.
Needless to say, I did not receive piano lessons, and no, I'm not blaming mom. I've had ample opportunity since that time to do it for myself.
Every few years I tell myself that I'm going to sign up for piano lessons. And every time I've made that pledge, life intervened. At some point you'd think I'd give up the idea. Not so. If my love of the piano is a gift ... and I believe it is, then who knows, it could become another career one day, or maybe just a source of great personal joy.
Of course, I could be pretty long in the tooth by then; but hey, that didn't stop Grandma Moses. I could one day be to music what Grandma Moses was to art. You never know.
The bottom line is ... try to never miss a gift. These are God given talents that was given with purpose. While you may never know what the purpose is, you can rest assured, it is important.