Love Letter

This semester I'm taking a basic writing class. Our first assignment was to write a love letter to some (non-living) thing. I chose to write about music. I may have embellished my memories a bit, but I like how my paper turned out.

My dearest Music,

When I was young, my oldest sister would sit down on our rickety old piano bench, and place her fingers on the yellowed chipped keys of our well-loved piano. First a simple melody, then beautiful harmonies emanated from the scratched and abused instrument. Then, from every corner of my home arose voices (my father’s base, my mother’s alto, the tenor of my older brothers, and the myriad of sopranos and altos of my many sisters) in remembered or improvised harmonies, each blending nearly perfectly with the next. Before I was even old enough to remember, I was joining in the song as much as my small voice could manage. It was in those earliest days of my life that I fell in love with you. Even now, many years later, you are still so much a part of my family. In the raucous dissonance of my own small children’s singing, you are cherished.

When I am with you my joy is exultant, my sorrows are alleviated, my excitement is palpable, and my anger is assuaged. You calm my anxiety. You lift me when I am down. You invigorate me when I am tired, and push me forward when I am ready to give up. When I struggle to find the right words to speak, your lyrics always give me voice. When I am finding it hard to express what I am feeling, with you it is easy to say “I will always love you.” When it’s hard for me to stand and bear testimony, you lend me voice to say “I believe in Christ,” and “I know that my Redeemer lives.”

Your company makes even the most tedious task enjoyable. Never a day passes by when your catchy tunes and upbeat tempos aren’t with me as I wash dishes or fold laundry. I love how you are always there to help me teach my children, everything from “I am a child of God” to “The foot bone’s connected to the ankle bone.” In the evenings, you are soft and gentle, and you help me lull my children to sleep with your sweet calming lullabies.

When your melodies enter my thoughts, my heart (along with my voice) sings along. Each of your harmonious chords resonate with my spirit, and I am happy. Many times as I listen to your quick beating rhythm, in tune with my own heart, I am caught dancing, and even though my kids give me funny looks, I would choose to dance with you every time. For me the dance is compulsory, more a reflex than a choice. Perhaps eventually, my children will learn to love you as I do, and they will dance along.

At times as I sit before my own smooth but dusty piano, and place my fingers on the shiny white and black keys, I struggle to find you. I feel as though you have abandoned me; but I know you are there, lingering just beyond my reach, waiting patiently for me to bring you back. And when my longing for you grows too great, I lift my hands from the keys, and instead raise my voice, and there you are, where you have always been, waiting to embrace me in your dulcet tones.

You were with me when I was a small child. You were there throughout my teen years, on my wedding day, and you are yet with me as I am raising my children. You will continue to be with me until my dying day. Every moment of every day, you are on my mind and in my heart. My life simply wouldn't be complete without you. Other dear ones have come and gone, but you will be with me forever. 

With all my love, 

April