Voila'! A Viola!

voi·là (vwah-lah) Used to call attention to or express satisfaction with a thing shown or accomplished: Mix the ingredients, chill, and—voilà!—a light, tasty dessert. From the French : voi, imperative of voir, to see + là, there. See there!

vi·o·la (vee-oh-luh)–noun. A four-stringed musical instrument of the violin family, slightly larger than the violin; a tenor or alto violin.

Several years ago, Merrill wanted to learn to play the violin. We had no violin, no knowledge about violins, nor any idea of where to find a violin teacher in our tiny little town. Merrill began to ask God about a violin, not mentioning it to anyone else. Several months later, her grandfather bought a violin at a sale. He had no idea that anyone here had an interest in it, but offered it to us on a lark. Voila'---Merrill had a violin.

Recently, Merrill wanted to add viola to her repotoire, but there was no viola in sight. She began praying again. The subject arose once in a coversation with her Aunt Kate, who lit fire and ran. Voila'. Wrapped in God's goodness and Nebraska sunshine, Merrill just had her first viola lesson.

Great big thank yous to Opa and Aunt Kate for the gift of music!

Ye have not because ye ask not. James 4:2. Our heavenly Father is not a puppet whose strings we may pull, nor a sugar daddy from whom we command whatever we want. But He is a loving Father who desires to give us good gifts. Like our earthly fathers, He wants us to ask for the things we need, and even the things we want. Sometimes He says no. But sometimes He's just waiting for us to ask.