MARJORIE WINGERT
  • Prayer Over Our Children
    • Subscribe
  • Meditations
  • About
    • About Marjorie
    • About Prayer Over Our Children Blog
  • Books and Music
    • Feeling the Music Book
    • Meet Mr. Caleb
    • Sing Along With Mr. Caleb CD
  • Speaking and Events
  • Media Room
  • Contact

Prayer Over Our Children


Blog Home
Follow Me:
Subscribe

Duet

8/23/2021

0 Comments

 
Sweet Pea is learning to play the piano. Her little fingers poise over the keys in perfect position. Straight is her back as she sits with legs propped upon her small footstool. Having learned the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 fingering, Sweet Pea now has advanced to the treasure trove of reading music! What excitement!

         A dear friend is her teacher. A lover of God and music, Sweet Pea’s teacher carefully selected music books which feature simple praise choruses. What a delight to hear our little girl poke out notes to precious praise songs of old!
     “Praise the Name of Jesus!” her little voice sings along as her fingers press the keys, “You’re my Rock! You’re My Fortress! You’re My Deliverer. In You, I will trust!” 

     Her next music conquest excited her even more. It was a song she had known since a babe. To play its simple notes infused her with joy.

     “Lord, You are more precious than silver. Lord, You are more costly than gold…” Oh, to hear these cherished tunes fill our home has been precious indeed.

     A new praise song was assigned this past week. Once more, the music transported me back to my youth. Her fingers clunked slow, learning a new melody. But though unfamiliar to her, bit was beloved to me.

     “Jesus, Name above all Names…Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord! Emmanuel, God is With us. Blessed Redeemer…Living Word.” Over and over her fingers struggled to find the right keys. Her lips silently counted out the notes, correcting rhythms. Yet in my own head, the old song floated and spun.

     As Sweet Pea grew more confident, her little voice tried inserting the words to the melody. I smiled, hearing her rendition of mismatched rhythms with lyrics.

     “Here, let me sing it,” I offered. But Sweet Pea was not ready yet. Mastery over the notes had not settled into her bones. But today, something special happened.

      A day where my heart lay heavy, I reached for my guitar. For me, the physical act of organic worship breaks the wall of oppression. So it is no surprise that after choosing to wage war in several Enemy strongholds, pushback visited with force.

    But God was gracious. He had ministered to me in small yet powerful dosages spread over the span of a few days. It came first through community with beloved brethren, next with reminders of God’s faithfulness, and then in Bible study. Although lightening the oppression, it did not fully eradicate the hovering darkness. So out to God I cried and to the guitar I fled. To raw and organic worship I turned.

     Song after song I played. Fingers shifted, hands contorted, and wrist strummed. Louder and stronger my voice lifted interweaving harmony into melody, weaving an offering of the heart. Light glimmered and shone. The light pushed back, overcome, and conquered. My lungs breathed deep. My spirit rested. Then, an even greater gift. An offering of two rather than just one.

     “Mommy!” I forgot to practice!” burst out Sweet Pea. She ran for the piano and plunked herself down. So sudden was her outburst, my wrist hung mid strum and my voice halted mid-strain.

     “Okay,” I said, spirit refreshed and happy to relinquish. Typically, Sweet Pea warmed up with various musical exercises. But not this time. Surprised, I heard her press the notes to the worship song she was learning. Almost as if she too, wanted to join in the worship with her own little offering. The melody to “Jesus, Name Above All Names,” tickled the air. Her little fingers added their contribution. How precious this beloved, old song. How sweet the offering. Then, an idea popped in my brain.

     “Can I play with you?” I asked. Guitar in hand, I softly strummed a few chords. Sweet Pea eyes sparkled and shone. Her head bobbed with enthusiasm.

     “Here we go,” she chirped. This time, she sang as she played. With ears bent towards my guitar, my ears strained to listen. My fingers stumbled to find the correct chords. Together we fumbled over notes with rhythms awry. Our voices warbled.

     Though our attempts were at first clumsy, it did not dispel the utter joy which coursed through me. A radiant delight from the Father emanated within my spirit with peaceful glow. For it is not the notes or the noise which matters but the heart of the worshiper and the praise given in the offering. The pure joy of uniting in praise to our heavenly King in both instrument, heart, and voice stirred my soul to overflowing. The thrill of playing the right chord to the correct notes layered with lyrics of truth, ignited joy and new zeal.
​
     The sweet offerings of a child given with wonder and delight to our heavenly Lord, opened the gates of praise. In Psalms, we are told the praises of infants and children open the glories of heaven and establish strength. And, here in my living room, the gates of heaven flung wide, pouring new strength into my veins. Over and over, we played. The simple melody took shape with its humble accompaniment. Piano notes rhythmically misaligned and non-tandem words created an imperfect offering of heart and soul. An offering of the heart. A duet of praise.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    All Posts
    Inspirational writer and speaker Marjorie Wingert blogs about motherhood, family and more from a Christian perspective.

    Author

    Married to my best friend for over 20 years, my husband and I are the proud (and often exhausted!) parents of a vivacious kindergatener. As a vision-impaired mom, prayer and trust in the Lord play a vital and moment-to-moment role in my life. Read more ...

    Follow me:​

    All Posts
    Subscribe

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017


    Categories

    All
    Being Present
    Blindness
    Books By Marjorie Wingert
    Christian Parenting
    Colossians
    Death And Heaven
    ​Discernment
    Engaging Children
    Ephesians
    Fear
    Forgiveness And Humility
    Galatians
    Gentleness Vs. Firmness
    Growth And Change
    Hebrews
    Husbands And Fathers
    Husbands Wives And Marriage
    James
    John
    Letting Go
    Loneliness
    Music Talent And Praise
    Overcoming Challenges
    Parents' Prayers For Children
    Peter
    Philemon
    Philippians
    Prayer
    Protection And Prayer
    Speaking Events
    Spiritual Warfare
    Thessalonians
    Timothy
    Titus
    Weariness
    Worship

    Subscribe

    RSS Feed

On the Wing author Marjorie Wingert logo

Site Map

Prayer Over Our Children Blog
Books, Music & More
About Marjorie
About the Blog
Speaking and Events to Schedule or Attend
Contact

Show Your Support

If you would like to send an offering, please click the button below to send a non-tax-deductible gift through PayPal and select the option to send a gift:
Send a Donation
If you prefer to send a check, please contact Marjorie for mailing address.

Stay in Touch

Follow Marjorie:
Subscribe to Blog
Copyright © 2017 - 2020
Photos from shixart1985 (CC BY 2.0), shixart1985, docoverachiever, US Department of State, lukas schlagenhauf, Harold Litwiler, Poppy, Stefan Tunkel, Theo Crazzolara, bill85704, mikecogh, Tony Armstrong-Sly
  • Prayer Over Our Children
    • Subscribe
  • Meditations
  • About
    • About Marjorie
    • About Prayer Over Our Children Blog
  • Books and Music
    • Feeling the Music Book
    • Meet Mr. Caleb
    • Sing Along With Mr. Caleb CD
  • Speaking and Events
  • Media Room
  • Contact