Sharing Gifts

I have always felt that each person is given a special gift. For some it is the loyalty they display in each friendship they acquire, for others it can be a great smile, the ability to make people laugh,being able to do a math problem without taking the class, being a great athlete, knowing when someone needs comfort, or one of those people that just...helps. I have always labeled myself as "the entertainer". I provide entertainment in many forms to those around me. Sometimes it is with chatter in an otherwise silent room, sometimes its making people laugh, other times it is to be a listener, sometimes it's making those comments that everyone is thinking but no one will say...(oops)  and then there's that gift of music.

I've been having this feeling for several years that I need to be sharing it. Not wanting, but needing. Not in the form of on stage with a mic, although I have done that, but just sharing.  I no longer really want to be up in front performing. I much prefer singing with friends just because we want to. The other evening I got a chance to do just that. A couple friends and I got together for a wonderful lady who is a hospice patient. We sang songs she picked out, songs others picked out and just enjoyed the night. 2 1/2 hours later....I walked out exhausted, but joyous.

 I had looked around to see the banjo player with the talented fingers pickin' out a tune, the guitar player who knows every song out there and plays with ease. Their wives, and children joining in. The wonderful lady on her last moments in this world holding a downs baby who fell asleep to the music in her arms. I looked at my very good friends who are guitar and piano players and wonderful singers and thought...wow...this is what I hope the next chapter of my life brings.

I was right in that I need to share my own gift.

When my father passed away I would play the piano and pretty much just read the music and follow along. Shortly after he was gone I felt this urging to fill in between the notes. I start adding things here and there and soon these songs became... me.  At some point I had tears running down my face as I heard my father say "that's it. Keep going".  Now I know that when I sing it's a part of me, my father and the gifts he shared (violin, mandolin, guitar,mouth harp, harmonica and singer) that molded me into who I am. I did need to share. I DO, need to share, present tense. I need to share for me, to bring smiles to others, to appreciate those around me and start filling a spot in my heart that has been aching for quite some time.

God gives us talents that we need to expand I guess. In order for me to fill full, I need to give. And that's what I intend to to.