I went running through our neighborhood last evening. It was a picture perfect night. Low humidity, cool temperatures – people had their windows open.
While running, I heard at least three different children practicing their musical instruments through the screened windows. One was playing a piano, another a flute and the last a clarinet. Despite the halting notes and pregnant pauses, it was beautiful and comforting at the same time.
I thought it was beautiful because the parents and children invested enough in each other to practice the discipline of beauty. Beauty doesn’t always happen by accident, more often than not – it takes practice.
I also found comfort in the fact that there seemed to be enough love, peace and unity in these homes to allow for such patient practice to occur.
As I finished my run and arrived at my home the thought struck me – something doesn’t have to be perfect to still be beautiful.
That thought inspired me to ask our youngest to play her two solo piano pieces that she’ll perform at a recital this afternoon. Here’s the 60 second video clip of her playing.
More often that not, we require perfection of our kids and ourselves in the pursuit of beauty. I think that misses the moments of beauty that are embedded within the creative process.
My daughter’s description of her first musical composition titled “Pretty Pink Flowers” is almost as beautiful as her performance. There’s a preciousness captured in this video that makes it one of the sweetest most beautiful things I’ve heard in a long time.
Question: Is there a similar moment that you’ve shared with a child or grandchild?
