The great pianist Paderewski once went to hear a friend’s daughter give a piano recital. But when the little girl saw the great man in the audience, she got stage fright, forgot her piece and broke down in tears. At the close of the concert Paderewski said nothing to her, but went up and tenderly kissed her on the forehead and left. In later life, that kiss came to mean more to her, as a concert pianist, than his applause would have. It was a kiss of love and understanding from the master musician, who knew what it was like to get stage fright.
It reminds me of those great words from the Bible; ‘The Lord is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope.’ Our times of failure can become our greatest times of growth if through them we learn more of the love and restoring presence of God.