Sophia

…. shortly after opening our studio, we faced some unique challenges that made me wonder if we had done the right thing. I was completely overwhelmed with the responsibility yet felt strongly that God had put the dream of creating a music studio/coffee shop in my mind years before. During that time of uncertainty, I prayed incessantly, asking for God to show me a sign that I was following his will and doing the right thing. Inevitably, and faithfully, God would send a student to inquire about lessons at just the right time, and it gave me just enough hope to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

We survived that crisis, and actually started growing, and then Covid hit. Like so many other small businesses, we were hit hard, and lost nearly half of our students. Convinced we were doing what God has planned, I continued to pray… even bigger, I continue to pray that I will be able to work in the studio full time someday. I prayed that He would send the students who needed to see Him through us.

Yesterday, after some car trouble, one of our instructors asked if I could fill in for one of her lessons. I gratefully obliged. When I arrived, Sophia was already playing a tune for my business partner, Dan. She is a beautiful blonde haired, blue eyed little girl with a lot of spunk and curiosity.

Her mother, with whom I’ve had brief encounters with, sat quietly in the lobby. In the past, I’ve tried to hold conversation with mom, but her demeanor is very withdrawn, almost cold. She would give one word answers to my open ended questions, clearly demonstrating she wasn’t interested in talking.

Sara, Sophia’s regular instructor, had asked me weeks before if I’d sit in on one of her lessons to help coach her on how to handle Sophia, who is a bit strong willed. We had agreed, but I had lesson conflicts on each of the weeks since… that is until yesterday, when Sara needed me to fill in.

The lesson with Sophia went fine, we talked a bit about what happens in her lessons with Sara and she played for me pieces she’d worked on and we learned a new one.

That evening as I was packing up my stuff, my business partner called to see how everything went at the studio that night. We got to talking about Sophia’s lesson… and he commented that he felt she didn’t get much support at home. He had had a brief conversation with Sophia’s mom, with a similar reaction that I’ve experienced, and told me he felt like she really didn’t seem to care if Sophia practiced or progressed on piano.

It struck me once again…. we are there to teach these kids (and their parents really) so much more than simply how to play an instrument. We are there to love them and coach them and teach them how to learn. Particularly with our young ones, we are there to teach them life lessons through the arts (one of our tag lines). We are there to make an impact in their life…

I pray for Sophia. And I pray for her mom. And I pray for Sara as she continues yes to teach Sophia… that she’d teach her far more about how to navigate in a cold world… and the coping/healing properties music brings… the connection that music brings … the bridges it builds between people who might otherwise not connect…

And this reminds me why we do what we do.

I’m so very grateful God has given me an opportunity to make a difference. I continue to pray for all the Anna’s and Sophia’s amd Sara’s in the world… may they find Jesus! Lord, may we humbly ask to have some small part in their journey!

Be blessed today, my friends, as I have been

SB