As a young child, I would sit on my mother’s lap when she played our old upright piano. Because of the lined bifocal lenses she wore, it was difficult for her to see the music in the church hymnal. Often as I sat with her, I would push her hands away so that I could press the keys. I was her ninth child, and she must have realized that I had some musical abilities, as at the age of seven, I started piano lessons. My teacher made me learn classical pieces instead of the “catchy” tunes that would keep my interest. Soon, I tired of the thirty minutes of enforced daily practice, and complained that the other kids were allowed to be outside playing. After seven years of lessons, and many dreaded recitals, mother grew tired of my complaints, and the lessons were stopped. My mother had taken in the piano teachers ironing, in trade for my lessons.

During my time in high school, I joined singing groups and left my piano playing days behind. But years later, married and with children of my own, I began to miss that old piano. I wanted to teach my children some songs that I had loved as a child. My husband, Jim, made arrangements to get my piano shipped to us from my parent’s home. Once it arrived, I was happy to be playing it again. Jim did not like the way the old upright looked, and eventually he bought a more attractive spinet-style piano. The tone quality was not the same, but soon our children would be taking piano lessons.

When we moved from the humidity of Texas to the dry climate of Colorado, we moved the piano too. I cringe as I think about how we transported it in our horse’s trailer. Our horse was standing on one side of the stall divider, and our piano was on the other side!

After we settled into our new home, I called the piano tuner. Try as he might, he could not get the piano to stay in tune. Was it the change of climate that was the problem? Much to my dismay, he discovered that the sounding-board was cracked. Because of that, he said it would never be able to keep its pitch. It was obvious we needed a new piano, but they were so expensive. I decided to ask GOD for a new piano.

In a magazine, I found a picture of the piano I wanted. It was a white, Yamaha five foot grand. Since faith often requires action on our part, I moved out the damaged piano and left its spot vacant. I taped the magazine picture to the wall where the new piano would stand. Then I asked GOD for the beautiful white instrument. I was specific in my prayer request. I said “GOD, I would like a white, five foot grand piano. If all you have in your warehouse are black or brown ones, don’t send those. I want a white one, please.” Each day, as I passed by that magazine picture taped to the wall, I thanked GOD, in faith, for the white piano he would be sending. In Mark 11:24 we are told: …”what things soever ye desire,

when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (KJV) Months passed.

In the book of James chapter 4 verse 3, it is written: “You ask, and you fail to receive because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives…” (AMPC). GOD knew my motives were honest, and I was thanking Him in advance for the white piano that I would receive. I had not asked my husband to buy a new piano, but of course, he could not fail to notice the picture that I had taped to the wall.

Less than a year later, my husband was in Florida for a speaking engagement at a friend’s church. Jim had been talking with his friend, when the subject of pianos came into their conversation. He found out that his friend’s father owned a piano store. In a generous gesture, his friend decided that he would provide our family with a piano. Soon a white, heavily- discounted piano, (just like the one in the magazine picture), was being shipped from Florida to our home in Colorado.

Three years ago, when I moved to Florida, the beautiful white piano, (my acquisition by faith), travelled to my new home in a climate-controlled vehicle. Today, I play songs of praise and thank the King of Kings for his gift of love to me.