Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Proverbs 3:5 (04/06/23)
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TITLE: Like Bubble Gum on A Diamond Bracelet | Previous Challenge Entry
By Donna Powers
04/13/23 -
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I come from a family of musicians. Our family forms a group of gospel singers. We’ve traveled as a singing group since I was too young to do anything except smile and bang the tambourine.
We sing Christian music, so most of our performances are at churches or county fairs. We don’t get paid much when they pass the plate, but Southern churches never let you go away hungry. We always got at least enough money from the collection to make it to our next singing job.
Papa always reminds us: “God gave us the voices to sing, and He called me to take our family on the road to share His Love. He’s always provided what we need. I believe if I do what He’s called me to do, He’ll surely keep providing.”
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It was an amazing childhood. Mama home-schooled us, and we kept up with our schoolwork. Being on the road with the Billings Family Gospel Singers was a great way to live.
But there’s one big problem.
It turns out I have no talent for singing. I don’t sing off-key. My voice just doesn’t add quality to my family’s singing. When I add my voice to my family’s voices, my voice sticks out like bubble gum on a diamond bracelet.
While I was young, it didn’t make much of a difference. A cute little kid in a family group didn’t have to blend. But, as I got older, Papa it didn’t work for me to sing anymore.
I got it.
Papa was right to ask me to stop singing, but I was still part of the family. I still travelled with them from church to church. I asked Papa why God had made a mistake; and put a boy who can’t sing in a family of singers. Papa laughed and said God doesn’t make mistakes.
“Just because we can’t see God’s purpose doesn’t mean He doesn’t have one,” Papa told me. “God put you in our family for a purpose,” Papa assured me. “If we trust Him, He’ll show us what it is.”
When I got to high school, and Mama worked with me, we began to realize I had a talent for math. It seemed to come as easily to me as singing came to my brothers and sisters
So, Mama asked me to help her on the family budget records. Soon, I took over the family budget. Mama eventually let me do their taxes. After that, I began keeping our family’s appointment calendar and handling the family’s bookings.
After I got my high school diploma, I took some correspondence courses from a college. I figured one day; I would start an online business doing bookkeeping. I knew no other life; and traveling with my family seemed like it was where I was meant to be. I accepted that God had placed a math whiz in a family of singers for a reason.
One day last week, at another little country town, the family had been booked to sing service at a Baptist church. After the family sang, Deacon Smith asked us to come to their house for some pie. After eating their delicious cherry pie, and drinking some great sweet tea, the deacon’s wife went over to the piano. As she began playing gospel songs, their family began singing along.
Their talent just blew us away.
After they’d sung a few songs, Papa spoke to the deacon. “Deacon Smith,” he said. “God has blessed your family. I know talent when I hear it.”
The deacon thanked him. “Thanks so much, Brother Billings. This is a confirmation of what the Spirit has been showing me. I have recently been laid off from my job, and I believe our family is being called to travel and sing- like your family does.”
“I believe you would be a success,” Papa encouraged him.
“Thank you again. I am willing to try it. I just wish we knew someone who could help with the management side of things. You know someone to help with bookings and to keep financial records.”
Papa and Mama turned their heads in unison and looked at me. But I already knew. It was as if - suddenly - everything leading up to this moment finally made sense.
I introduced myself to Deacon Smith - and stepped forward into God’s next adventure.
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