Aunt Mary Etta, and The Martin Guitar

I remember going to visit her when I was little.  I remember a Christmas at her brother's house when she had a special gift for each niece and nephew.  She really couldn't afford it.  It must have taken time, careful planning, and sacrifice.  She had no children of her own, and lived with her husband Harry.  She was one of twelve children:  seven sisters and five brothers, and my mom is one of her sisters. 

Aunt Mary Etta, with some of her brothers and sisters and their spouses.

Music, I think, was one of her passions.  Aunt Mary Etta loved to go to bluegrass shows and festivals, and was friends with many of the performers.  She enjoyed the picnic lunches we would have with these friends at Sunset Park.  She had difficulty carrying a tune when she sang, but she was able to play the harmonica, and she truly enjoyed listing to her brother Chris, and her sisters Lois, Edie (my mom) and Reba sing in their quartet. Her participation was in her appreciation of the gifts and talents that God had give those she loved, and in her encouragement of them to use those gifts. 

Aunt Mary Etta and Uncle Harry moved to a little house that was very near to her sister Ruth.  Aunt Ruth and my mom opened a sewing shop in the apartment building between the two houses, and when I was a senior in high school I began four years of employment with them.  In that time I had many opportunities to visit with Aunt Mary Etta.  Uncle Harry passed away during those years, and being unable to get out easily because of a disability, she always appreciated the company. One of the things that really stood out to me was how important each person was to her.  She kept records of everyone's birthday, and would send out cards regularly. 

Heaven becomes more dear every time a loved one goes to be with Jesus, and Aunt Mary Etta is in his presence now.  She's been there almost five years by our time, but in eternity I am certain that perspective is quite different.  There was never any doubt that her nieces and nephews were special to her, but when we received notification that she had divided her estate among us all, it was certainly confirmed.  My Aunt Mary Etta didn't have much in this world as far as money and possessions go, but she was rich in relationships.  Through the sale of her property she was able to bless each one of us more than she ever knew.

Aunt Mary Etta's gifts have been significant to my life.  God has used her generosity to lead me, and even to call me into a sphere of ministry I only dreamed of.  About a year after she died my husband, Eric, and I found out about the check that we were to receive.  Eric encouraged me to think of something I could buy and keep in remembrance of her.  One day, around Easter time, I was out walking and praying and the Lord spoke to me about using me in a leading role in the worship ministry, and buying a guitar with my inheritance from Aunt Mary Etta that would be part of that process.  

I had tried to learn to play the guitar on several occasions, and had given up in frustration every time, so to spend this amount of money on a guitar was a bit shocking.  There was enough doubt that I made a commitment to play the guitar Eric's Uncle Rod had loaned us every day for six months before I would buy my own.  If I made enough progress in that time I would proceed.  After a few months my sister, Loni Kirklin, loaned me one of her guitars to practice on.  It was more like the one I was hoping to buy, and it was easier to play.  It was about a year after making the initial commitment that I finally bought my Martin Guitar.  I had looked a couple of times, but when my mom and Loni were here that spring we went shopping and it became clear exactly which instrument I should buy.  It's my "Aunt Mary Etta Guitar," and it's a blessing from God.

It took a long time before I began to actually play it in the worship service at our church.  I would take it to practices and play along when I was scheduled to sing.  My friend who leads worship would ask me to bring it along at different times and he would just play with me a little and try to help me along.  I took it along to Uncle Rod's bedside the last time we were able to visit him.  I didn't know what to say, so I played and sang a few hymns instead.  He passed away a few days later, and I was asked to play with my kids and their cousin who sang at his memorial service.  

I soon went to have electronics installed in my guitar which was a step of faith, and a few months after that I asked if I could play an offertory in church. Since then I have been playing with the worship team.  I still fumble a lot, but this whole process has taught me so much.  Not only have I been learning more about music, but I have been learning about trusting God's plan.  He has brought me to a place in this ministry that had long been in my heart and seemed more like a dream.  It was not just a dream, it was a vision. I am amazed and grateful.  Sharing my passion with others is such a blessing.

Sometimes it is hard to know if I am really hearing God, or if I am hearing what I want to hear.  I think I usually know, but I am so prone to doubt.  I think that I am just making it up to suit my own desires, but Psalm 37:4 says "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."  Why should I assume God is going to ask me to do things that seem like a burden instead of the ones that are a delight?  If I can stay focused on delighting myself in the Lord there should be no reason to question motives.  When I look back at how it all worked out, I know that only God could have done it, and I am thankful that He chose to use my Aunt Mary Etta to lead me here. 

The writing on my guitar case reads,
"In loving memory of Uncle Harry and Aunt Mary Etta Hoover.
Dedicated to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!"