This week, my friends and I attended a concert on the beach featuring a Big Band Orchestra. It was super fun to hear the music that my father used to play. It was even funner (yep, I said funner) to watch the musician playing the upright bass – my dad’s instrument.

As the various tunes went out into the air, I was transported back to the many times I witnessed my dad and his band playing these as well as other tunes from Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and many more. It was a simpler time. It was a joyous time.

I’m grateful for these memories and being a witness of watching my father do what he was specifically designed to do – play music. It came effortlessly to him. Of course, he studied music and earned several degrees, but he had a God-given gift and as soon as you saw him play or sing one note, you just knew.

He’s gifted to do this.

The Bible tells us that:

• We were known by God before the beginning of the world (Jeremiah 1:5).
• We are made in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:27).
• We were formed in our mother’s womb by God’s own hand, fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-16).
• We are God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10.
• We have a specific plan and purpose for our lives given to us by God (Jeremiah 29:11).

Wow! This is pretty incredible! Just ponder this for a moment. I mean that…ponder these truths for a moment. Before God put His hand to create one thing in the universe, He knew YOU! He knew how He’d create you. He knew the plan and purpose for your life. He was forming every little piece of you while you were “cooking” in your mother’s womb.

Wow again!

God knew that the world would need music and so He placed that gift in my father. I believe it gave God great joy seeing my dad use that gift to bless others. Not just those who got to hear him play and sing while he was alive, but all of his students who pursued a music career because of him.

Talk about a legacy!

Legacies are only created when we step out and share our God-given gifts with the world. My dad could’ve chosen to play it small and only grace our family with his talents. But he didn’t. He stepped out and because of that, he played with the likes of the Count Basie Orchestra – the very music I heard the other night on the beach.

The Bible tells us plainly that our gifts were not given just for us. They were given to bless and serve others (1 Peter 4:10) as well as give glory to God. You can’t create a legacy if you are hiding your light under a bushel (Matthew 5:14-16).

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 NKJV)

This post may sound like a tribute to my father and in many respects, it is. However, it’s also a call to action for you, me, and so many others.

• What gift or talent are you potentially hiding?
• How can you use it to bless the world?
• What is keeping you from sharing it?

Let’s ask ourselves: What is the legacy we want to leave behind? What steps will we take today to begin?

Let’s not play small anymore. Let’s let our lights shine for the world and give glory to God who gave them to us.