Teaching and Admonishing…Flowers of a True Friend
I have a good friend named Barb who is about 20 years older than me. Our lives overlapped in church and piano teaching for 15 years. She was the lead pianist in our church and I was honored to serve right beside her every Sunday. Our piano teaching led us to be involved in the same piano organizations. She mentored me not only as a teacher but as a godly wife and mother.
One of the things that was unique about our relationship was our love for and “tucking away” of music, songs, and tidbits of music trivia. Often our conversation would revolve around a memory or story that had to do with that particular piece of music or song. Sitting at the duo pianos in the church sanctuary or sitting on the same bench as we played duets, we would get to singing, giggling, or reminiscing while we made music.
But there was something that she excelled at when I was “out of sorts” or having a spirit of discontentment in a situation. She would gently and kindly “admonish” me through our music. It would begin with a “Now listen…” and finish up with a “and because I’m a sinner saved by grace, we ought to mirror Christ in our behavior toward others, even if they’ve wronged you.”
Then she would say how thankful she was that God had saved her, gifting her with the talents and abilities that she possessed, and being grateful for His grace and mercy in her life.
May we find that friend who can encourage us in wisdom, teaching and admonishing us through the Holy Spirit so that we might develop a heart of gratitude toward God whether through songs, hymns, or the Word of God (psalms).
Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them…
Letting the richness of His Word dwell (abide, take up residence) in our hearts.
