Furry Faith: The preparation is private

As a child in a very tiny community in Alaska,

I had the miraculous opportunity to receive piano lessons. Long, dark Alaskan evenings, no household TV, and my excitement about practicing (along with a VERY patient family!) made the perfect combination that resulted in my learning the piano well. This skill has brought me many happy returns from those invested hours. Over the last 20 years, I have given dozens of children lessons, encouraged my church through praise and worship, accompanied choirs, played for nursing home residents, and enjoyed many hours of personal piano time. Music is dear to my heart. So imagine my joy when my 8-year-old son burst into the house one day and announced that he wanted to play the piano. I immediately stopped washing dishes, dried my hands, and enthusiastically told him we could begin his first lesson right now. He looked at me with complete disgust and said, “I didn’t say I wanted to take lessons. I just said I want to play.” I laughed and thought to myself, “That’s how we all feel.” I have considered his statement often over the years and how it applies to other areas of my life besides the piano. At times I have been envious of another’s skill or accomplishments, without realizing the many hours that they spent when no one was watching working towards their goal. While a great teacher, coach, or mentor can instruct you with knowledge on the proper technique, only hours of practice can develop the skill. Practical advice from Galatians tells us, “Don’t be discouraged and give up on doing what is good, for at the right time you will reap a harvest of blessing.” Consider today if there is an area of life where you want to see improvements. Do the work, put in the time; you will see positive results. If any of us are willing to spend dreary hours practicing in secret, we will be prepared at the right time for a shining performance.

(Rebecca was born and raised in Glennallen, Alaska, relocated to Georgia as a teenager, where a few years later she met and married her husband Chip. In 2005 while visiting family in the Flathead Valley, they realized this was the wholesome and beautiful environment they had been looking for in which to raise their family. Rebecca, Chip, and their three sons moved to Montana 8 years ago and have come to love the Flathead Valley, particularly the community of Bigfork where they live.) After spending several years in the property/casualty insurance market, she obtained her real estate sales license. Rebecca is devoted to providing the highest quality service and care to each client who has already made or would like to make Flathead Valley their home

Rebecca was born and raised in Glennallen, Alaska, relocated to Georgia as a teenager, where a few years later she met and married her husband Chip. In 2005 while visiting family in the Flathead Valley, they realized this was the wholesome and beautiful environment they had been looking for in which to raise their family. Rebecca, Chip, and their three sons moved to Montana 8 years ago and have come to love the Flathead Valley, particularly the community of Bigfork where they live. After spending several years in the property/casualty insurance market, she obtained her real estate sales license. Rebecca is devoted to providing the highest quality service and care to each client who has already made or would like to make Flathead Valley their home.