Romano

Since the age of 10 I had wanted to learn to play the guitar.My Mom spent $47 on one-a whole weeks pay for her- 40 something years ago. It had always bothered me that after a few weeks I hardly picked it up again.There are many things we plan on mastering yet for some reason we let a few linger and justify ourselves by saying "when I have more time".Due to a bad choice I made tragedy struck our family and all I had was time. I ordered a guitar and for the next 13 months it became my constant companion.After a few weeks my fingers were so sore I almost quit but they eventually became use to the strings and I kept at it.That guitar helped me to make it through a hard time and it meant a lot to me.
There was a guy named Romano that I let borrow it every Saturday when I went to the library to study.He was a guy who had been in and out of prison his whole life and had a very negative outlook about everything.Guess Jesus wasn't around perfect people either.As I prepared To leave I had given away everything but my guitar.I had went back and forth about giving it to Romano.He probably would trade it for cigarettes so I would just keep it.A few weeks earlier I had shared with Jessica about maybe giving it away. She knew what it meant to me but encouraged me to give it to him.The night before I was to leave the Lord really worked on me and at 7am I asked Romano to come over. As I handed him the guitar this hardened criminal ran into my arms and wept.He said that was the first thing anyone had given him in the last 25 years. As we got into the car to leave I told my daughter that maybe in a few days we could find a used guitar somewhere.When we arrived at her house I noticed a Martin guitar case on the table.I still cry when I think of that moment-seems she contacted some of my friends and told them the Romano story and Jess and Damien as well Rick, Mike and Lynette gave me a Martin  guitar. We sometimes try and hold on to things yet God has something far greater for us if we listen and follow Him.Romano and I write each other.He says he is praying for me and my family and that he saw God in me and that changed his life.As I play the guitar I thank Romano but mostly I thank God and I am reminded of a verse- Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.