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| Rosie's c. 1914 harp from the Metropolitan Opera House! |
I picked up my phone at 4pm and saw a missed call from my harp instructor. My heart sank as I remembered she was having a farewell tea for me today - at 2:30 pm. Can I just say, I was totally devastated. I called Rosie trying to figure some way out of saying, "I forgot", but there wasn't any other way to say it. I told her I was embarrassed and so incredibly sorry. She said, "Everyone is still here will you still come?" I couldn't believe it. I jumped in the car and raced to Lynchburg, all the way thinking of how to ask them to forgive me. When I walked in I wanted to cry. The table was laid with fresh flowers, burning candles, crystal, china and a spread of food you would not believe. I couldn't even look everyone in the face.
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| June and the beautiful table! |
As I sat at my place, they told me they had saved a little of everything and to dig in. Rosie served me snowflake tea. I love tea, but had never heard of this. Needless to say, it was wonderful. They had spent the last hour and a half learning about their instructor. As they told me a little about the stories she had shared, it all came together for me when they said she came from an Amish/Brethren background. Rosie is perhaps the most soft spoken and tender-hearted person I have ever met. She is generous and totally loves the Lord. She is serious about music, but her teaching style is very low key and low pressure. She doesn't push and allows you to take things at your own pace. She truly embodies a Christ like demeanor.
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| The adult students - The sisters, Corinne, June, Paula, Me and Rosie |
We talked about how each one of us met each other and how we met Rosie. The Vernon sisters, whom I have talked about in several blogs, admitted I am not the only person that asks them if they play the harp when they are seen walking the halls at the hospital. Corinne and I talked about how we went together to Richmond and each came home with nearly the same harp. June and I talked about sitting side by side in every recital, helping and encouraging each other through the stress of playing in public. Paula, the quietest one, quietly talked about meeting Rosie through her church. Her son was taking piano lessons and when she would attend his recitals she would see the harps and decided she wanted to learn. Each one of these women so different in age and life circumstance and yet joined in both Christ and the harp.
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| The sisters! |
Rosie placed a pile of cards and gifts in my hands. There was a devotional book from her written by a very famous harpist/instructor. Paula gave me a necklace charm of a harp. June gave me my first harp tree ornament and a tea towel about friends. All of them had written cards of thankfulness and encouragement. All I could say was, "Thank you" as I realized I would not see any of them again after today. My heart was aching. We took photos of the group and the harp on which we took lessons. As the sisters left and June, Paula and Corinne cleaned up the table, Rosie showed me the music for this year's harp retreat. I will not be able to attend, but she offered to copy the music for me anyway and mail it to my new address.
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| The gifts! |
After everyone had gone and it was just myself and Rosie, I could feel the tears welling up. She told me how excited she was for Steve and me on this new adventure. She told me she knew God was going to do great things and that she loved me. With tears rolling down my face, I told her, "You changed my world, Rosie, you changed my world." She began to cry and hugged me. My heart has been forever marked by this woman. I will be taking two years of music lessons when I go, but more importantly I will also be taking two years of life lessons. When I would come to class all frantic, she would listen to me vent and say, "Let's pray" and she would pray peace over me and then we would play the harp. Several minutes into it, the drama was gone and it was just this beautiful music. This house had been my weekly refuge.
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| Rosie, Me and the Wurlitzer No. 988! |
That is the true gift Rosie has given me. A way to block out the drama of life. I may not ever be a concert harpist, but I have a place to retreat and a way to calm my spirit. I also have a role model.
In His service
Mally
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