Sharing the Music

by Rita Spillers ("The Music Lady")

One of the biggest blessings in my life is to learn that my music has touched another person’s heart. In fact, my one prayer whenever I play music is that God will use me to help bless someone - either for the music to help lift a burden from their heart when they listen to it, or for it to give them a special moment of joy. 

I recently had the chance to realize how much it was helping one particular lady, but I must say first, it is GOD giving the blessing, it’s just that I was his “tool” for that moment!

I was busy at home when the phone rang. I did not recognize the voice on the other end of the line, but it was a lady with a very kind and engaging voice. “Rita,” she said, “you probably do not know me...my name is Carol, but you know my mother, Nell. 

She and I used to enjoy hearing you play music at the Holiday Inn restaurant when we were having our Sunday lunches. My mother would come there every weekend, and I would be with her when I was in town. I am calling to tell you, my mother is in the hospital, and I have a favor to ask.”  

Of course, I was quite taken by surprise to realize Mrs. Nell was so sick, and I was very anxious to see what I might could do to help!

Carol was calling to tell me that her mother was very uncomfortable and that she would soothe her mother each day with a body massage, and it was during that relaxing time that Mrs. Nell wanted to listen to cassette tapes of my instrumental music. 

She said it was very relaxing to her, a form of “therapy.” (Now that was an ironic way to think of it, for performing music for the public is almost like a form of therapy for me personally, to get to see a smile or a nod whenever a song touches someone “just right.”)

Needless to say, I got busy that very day and put together six or seven of my own cassette tapes and carried them to the hospital as soon as I could get up there. I felt so grateful to God to be using me in some way to help ease the pain and suffering of another person.  I told them it was my gift, and that I just wanted Mrs. Nell to get better soon. I think it did me much more “good” than it could have ever done her, just getting to share in that way!

God has a way of looking after his “own.” To my joy, Mrs. Nell was able to go home from the hospital in due time, and just this very week I got a heartwarming note from both Carol and Mrs. Nell expressing their gratitude for the tapes, letting me know Mrs. Nell was home and recovering well, and also a little gratuity gift enclosed thanking me for the cassettes and what they had meant to them. And in the note, Carol said to me, “She listens to them every night. She says she is ‘addicted’ to them.”

I share this story with you, not to say “look at me,” but to say, “Look how God was able to use me,” not as glory to ME, but glory to God Almighty. I cannot tell you how uplifting it is to me when I have a sweet story such as this to share, especially one with such a happy ending, knowing she is doing well again.

I have enjoyed sharing my stories with you at Blessings for Life, and I thank Michelle for her patience with me, even when my stories are not quite “on time.” I look forward to sharing more and more with you in upcoming issues of Blessings for Life. I hope you have a safe and blessed summer!

*  *  *

Copyright 2002 by Rita Spillers