It's What I Do

 Thursdays are always interesting days, as is every day, but Thursday is the day that I teach piano lessons. At the end of every Thursday, I like to reflect on the day.

 I teach piano all day.

 That's about it.

I used to think teaching was just my job. I liked doing it and I learn alot from it. When I look deep, I realize that teaching is so much more than a job. It's a ministry. It's a service to my King... and I LOVE it! For a half an hour every week I get to invest in my students lives. I get to share in their struggles, frustrations and glories as they learn the art of music.

A couple of months ago, I had a student that had to quit. I had lost students before but this one was different. This student had taught me what it meant to perservere when tired, to give when I was exasperated, to be gracious when frustrated, and to celebrate triumphantly when victory was achieved. We had spent many trying hours together and conquered even more hurdles and mountains. At our last lesson, I was fighting tears. I'm not usually a very emotional person. I tend to keep it all in, which is helpful in emergencies, but that night I could barely keep the tears in. As our lesson came to a close, she looked up at me and said, "Kaila, you are the best teacher ever!" and she hugged me, something she rarely ever did. I cracked as soon as the front door closed.

It was then that I realized the true depths of teaching. When I teach, I am not just telling my students how to read music. I am teaching them to worship God with their music. I am instilling in them a gift that Lord willing, they will never forget.

I only have a half hour with them each week (and let me tell you, those half hours sometimes feel like five hours). I have a limited amount of time to make my mark in their lives before it's time to move on.

But, oh how I LOVE It!

It is one of the most blessed, fulfilling callings, under that of being a sister, daughter and follower of Christ.

I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Piano teaching...

It's what I do.

Piano teacher...

It's what I am.

Friend...

It's someone I strive to be.

Missionary...

It's what I love being, even from my wooden chair next to the piano bench.

My mission field is a dinning chair, in a place I call home, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Every oppertunity to share, every action, every word, they are all reflections of the life I have in Christ. I pray that all of my students will love Christ and will be drawn nearer to Him through the small time I have with each one of them.

“The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.”
Johann Sebastian Bach

It's what I strive to do.

In Christ,

Kaila