Dream Crushers

I am one angry mom. Why is it that some people think it is OK to be mean just because they are the adult and children’s feelings don’t matter? Or that because they are teenagers, they must not have any feelings?

Our family has visited a local music store on several occasions. We’ve bought music and instruments from them, recommended them, and more. The Talented One loves to go in and play their pianos. He’s always been welcomed. I’d say one of his biggest dreams is to one day own a Baby Grand Piano. He will take any opportunity to play since we don’t have one at home. He’ll go to church early so he can play. He’ll stay late so he can play. He’ll visit music stores so he can play. You see, we don’t have one. We have an 88 key digital keyboard. It’s nice, it works, and he spends hours on the thing! I”m talking at least three hours a day! Playing beautiful, classical music. And making me smile.

I am in awe sometimes at how God chose to bless me with a child who can play so beautifully. With his heart. He doesn’t play to impress. As a matter of fact, he has been our *hidden* talent up until recently when we finally talked him into playing for our children’s concert. It was beautiful. This week we received some rather disturbing news. As we sat together as a family that evening, just being together, the Talented One went over and played; without his ear phones, allowing us to just listen. And relax. And enjoy. A gift from our Lord for sure.

So you can imagine my hurt for my son when he called me on Saturday and asked to come pick him up right away. He just wanted to come home, he said. I knew something was wrong, so I asked my husband to please go get him. He did. I worried. They came home. And my heart broke. So much so, that I’m still stewing about it this morning!

He was in the Family Music Center store playing the piece he’s been working on this week, when the manager came up to him and started yelling at him. She proceeded to tell him that he was disturbing the customers in her store and that he doesn’t know how to play the piano and that he is *no good.* She commanded him to leave the store. He did. In tears. There was more said, but I’ll stop.

Hubby picked him, drove to the store and went in to talk to the manager and find out what her version of the story was. No, he wasn’t being belligerent. No, he was not being rude. Nope, he wasn’t being disrespectful. In her eyes, he was just a teenager in the store playing the piano piece incorrectly, so she felt it was her duty to tell him he was disturbing the customers and didn’t know anything about playing the piano. And yes, she did tell him he was *no good.* And she didn’t care that she’d crushed his dreams. And it didn’t’ matter, because she is the “manager” of this “family” music store.

Well, this family won’t be attending that store anymore.

But, this family will continue to encourage our son. We will continue to remind him of how God has blessed him with an amazing gift; one that is to be shared so that others can enjoy His music. It doesn’t matter what this woman might think. What matters is what God has placed on his heart.

Here is my son, playing his heart.