Only Time Will Tell

The day I turned ten years old there was a bluegrass show at one of my favorite places, Sunset Park, in South Eastern Pennsylvania. It was such an exciting day as I entered the double digit years. As usual, my mom and her sisters had prepared a wonderful picnic lunch for all the family as well as for Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys. It was tradition for the band to come and share our feast and laugh and talk and enjoy a summer afternoon. To me this was incredible. These guys traveled all over the United States and sometime internationally to preform their music for vast audiences, and they cared enough to sit down and eat with us.

Throughout the years Virginia Boys would come and go, and at this particular time they had a very handsome young banjo player. Though he was young he was still twice my age. I had an almost immediate fondness for him. How thrilled I was when, upon discovering that it was my birthday, he bought me a snow cone and gave me one of his banjo picks. It's a day I'll not forget.

Almost 26 years later I still have that banjo pick, and it holds fond memories. I am now married to my high school sweetheart, Eric, and we have four children. This year, on Valentines day, my husband gave me a very special gift: a banjo. It was an amazing day! After all these years of saving that little memento from my tenth birthday, I have a banjo to play with it. A friend of mine is teaching me to play it. When we are on the worship team at our church together we both bring our banjos and try to squeeze in a little bluegrass practice before the rock and roll begins.

It's really awesome to me how things work out. I don't think I ever really would have guessed that I would be learning to play this instrument. As much as I always loved the sound of it, I didn't think I would really ever have one or what it takes to play a song. I believe with all my heart that long before my tenth birthday my Father in Heaven knew that I would. Little by little He put the pieces in place, and though I am only just getting started, I now believe with prayer, hard work, and the help of my friend I will be able to make it sing someday.

Psalm 139:13-16

13 For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.