a Parable of a young Piano student and why it helped me to keep painting

As I was reading this morning and taking in the long to-do list that as a Stay at home mom I have when really I just want to paint.   this story tugged on my heart strings:

This is to all the teachers, and mentors out there! Thank you!

the story of a young piano student

 His mother, wishing to encourage him, “bought tickets for a performance of the great Polish pianist, Paderewski. The night of the concert arrived and the mother and son found their seats near the front of the concert hall. While the mother visited with friends, the boy slipped quietly away.

“Suddenly, it was time for the performance to begin and a single spotlight cut through the darkness of the concert hall to illuminate the grand piano on stage. Only then did the audience notice the little boy on the bench, innocently picking out ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.’

“His mother gasped, but before she could move, Paderewski appeared on stage and quickly moved to the keyboard. He whispered to the boy, ‘Don’t quit. Keep playing.’ And then, leaning over, the master reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around the other side, encircling the child, to add a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized.

“In our lives, unpolished though we may be, it is the Master who surrounds us and whispers in our ear, time and time again, ‘Don’t quit. Keep playing.’ And as we do, He augments and supplements until a work of amazing beauty is created. He is right there with all of us, telling us over and over, ‘Keep playing.’”

Reference 1, 2

I thought this story was worth sharing. I am feeling as if sometimes my simple paintings are no better than a simple twinkle twinkle litter star played on a piano. Sometimes we need that gentle reminder that we have the ability to keep playing, keep painting, keep making beautiful art, even if you as the artist may not think it's that's great! 

This story also came at a great time in my painting journey, as I am learning about all the ways to play and develop my style of art, I am grateful for the constant encouragement when there are days I just want to say enough, this isn't for me, I keep going and feel better once I put some paint onto paper!