Giving Up My Baton

Tap. Tap. Tap.

All eyes are on the conductor. His hand goes up, the instruments are lifted into place, and on the down beat the music begins.

I want to be the conductor!

I want to lead, to turn around at the end of the performance and take my bow.

I want to hear the applause for a job well done.

Why won’t my family cooperate?

Families are works in progress. They are more like the fourth grade band than the Royal Philharmonic. Families are learning. Some days everything harmonizes perfectly and others . . . not so much. I can get so frustrated on those days when my family plays the wrong notes. Who am I kidding? The truth is we have times when we  are not only playing wrong notes, we are not even playing in the same key.

The good news.

I am not the conductor. I don’t even need to try to be the conductor.

I am one of the musicians. I am part of the music. And it’s okay that our song isn’t perfect. The fourth grade band concert sounds beautiful to the ears of parents who have encouraged practice and paid for lessons. We’re learning and growing. Playing together. Working together. Encouraging each other. Loving each other.

So, I’m giving up my baton and picking up my instrument.

I’m going to join my family in praising the One who deserves the glory, the praise, the applause.

The best news is that there is peace in laying down my baton. There is joy in the music! I am so much happier!

 Finally, I want all of you to live together in peace. Be understanding. Love one another like members of the same family. Be kind and tender. Don’t be proud. Don’t pay back evil with evil. Don’t pay back unkind words with unkind words. Instead, pay them back with kind words. That’s what you have been chosen to do. You can receive a blessing by doing it. 1 Peter 3:8-9

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3 Responses to Giving Up My Baton
  1. Kimberly
    May 2, 2012 | 10:50 pm

    This is great, Deb! I all too often feel frustrated because my household sounds much more like that 4th grade orchestra than the philharmonic! How easily I forget grace, growing, learning.

    Thanks for this reminder. I definitely need to put down my baton. I need to live well, to love well, and to trust the Lord to lead my family…knowing that He ADORES us…even when we do hit some pretty sour notes. 🙂

    Blessings,
    K

  2. Deb
    May 3, 2012 | 6:10 pm

    Thanks Kimberly,

    Oh, we’ve hit too many sour notes to count. I have to admit that laying down my baton has been the most freeing thing I’ve ever done, and the Lord is so gracious to let me rest in His love while He leads.

    Blessings to you as well!

  3. Krissi
    May 4, 2012 | 9:54 pm

    Wise words…and thoughts. I so often think I am the conductor, accepting the praise when the orchestra plays well. It’s such a relief to be reminded that I don’t make it happen!