Public Speaking

So, remember when you were a kid in Primary (basically, Sunday school for ages 3-12), and every now and then it would be your turn to give a talk? Here, let me tell you about one of my experiences giving a talk, an experience that I remember particularly well.

Well, I don't know how old was, but there I was, in the old Sandy Hills Ward Primary. A mysterious Primary leader (I say mysterious cause I can't remember who it was.) signals me that it is now, right then, my turn to stand at the microphone. So I did, I took my trusted copy of 100 Talks for Children (given to me on the day I was baptized by old Brother Adams, and the older Brother Hart), and I went and stood at the microphone.

It was my moment!

(Earlier, I had stood on the fireplace at home and practiced my talk so when this moment came, I would be ready.)

So there I was, standing, like I said, at the microphone. I looked out into the faces of my friends and neighbors, even my older sister and you know what happened?

I busted out laughing. Laughing so hard that I couldn't control it. AT ALL.

I still remember the look on my sister's face, I had embarrassed her. A LOT.

But still, I kept laughing. The mysterious leader came up to help, but still I was laughing. Surely there were a few, "okay, okay...."'s in there, but laughing was the only significant thing I was able to accomplish at the microphone that Sunday morning.

Now, suddenly, I have a daughter and now she goes to Primary! Can you believe it? Some say she is just like me, but I say she is much better.

Case in point: Last Sunday, my daughter gave her first talk in Primary.

So as you can imagine from the story I just told you, going in, I was feeling some apprehension for her. How would she handle this situation? Would she shine or would she be a puddle of nervous giggles like me?

I did not know.

But she did it! She was fantastic, she stood up at the right time, she spoke every word clearly and loud enough for the people in the back to hear her.

See?

She is totally better than I am.