We have a weekly Senior Adult prayer group that usually begins with the singing of a couple of old familiar hymns. One of our Seniors, in her mid 80’s, is a remarkably gifted pianist that adds strength to our weak voices and rhythm to our faltering pace. This lady is also a piano teacher. I took two lessons from her two years ago. (Taking more lessons is on the “want to do” list that I never get to.) But these two lessons were enough for me to know that she is a perfectionist and expects the same in her students.

I did take piano lessons as a child but after the piano teacher’s dog bit me my parents were not able to make me go back. Therefore, I play the piano with many mistakes but when there is no one else to play, I place my hands on the keyboard and do the best I can.

There have been a few times when I started playing the hymns at this prayer group, but when the pianist walked in (late), I would shout for joy, jump off the bench and insist that she take over.

Today, she was not there for the beginning of the hymns. They seemed particularly difficult today and I even wondered if I needed glasses as I strained to see the notes and somehow transfer their meaning to my fingers as they stumbled over the keys. When we finally got to the end of the last verse of the last hymn I breathed a sigh of relief.

As I was getting up from the bench the pianist/teacher walked in. She smiled at me and said, “Good job.” She had been waiting outside the door so that I couldn’t jump up and ask her to finish.

In John 13 Jesus refers to Himself as the Teacher. I wonder if when I think I am doing some work for Him, He is just behind the door waiting for me to finish so He can say, “Well done.” I wonder if it is only grace that allows me to be involved in that which the Master could effortlessly do without me.

I am grateful for a Teacher that waits.