O Come, Little Children / December 12

I was playing at a holiday open house for the First National Bank in Waseca when a tiny little angel crept closer and closer and closer to me. Soon she was making hand motions to "Away in a Manger."

Is there anything sweeter?
It brought tears to my eyes.

I love playing for events where children are present. It usually takes them a bit of time to get over their shyness. A huge harp can be intimidating to a little person. But more often than not, they end up right beside me, asking me questions, singing along. Only when they get too close to the harp or start touching the strings while I'm playing (or dueling with snowflake balloons on sticks right in front of me...) do I need to ask them to step back a little bit.

There's something special about having a warm little person leaning against me as I play, listening, humming. Seeing the look on their faces when I take a break and guide them through running their fingers up and down the strings. I feel at moments like those that I'm really doing my work in the world.