Sunday

The second counselor in the bishopric wasted no time in asking Maddy to speak in Sacrament meeting as the youth speaker. Too be honest, I was very nervous for her. At home, she has two volumes, loud and louder. We are constantly asking her to be quiet. That's why I am always so shocked when her teachers always comment on how quiet she is. I always ask if we are talking about the same girl. She is reserved in public. She casually informed me on Saturday that she was asked to speak on Sunday. I of course, reacted in typical mom fashion. "What! Why didn't you tell me earlier?! I never heard you tell me you had to give a talk. I am NOT always busy." Guilt. Tom and I helped her put together a simple talk on humility. In the back of my mind, I had the picture of a young girl about Maddy's age, who at the last minute, backed out of her talk. She was tearful and visibly shaking.

This Sunday was Brother Demille's first time conducting Sacrament meeting. After he had announced the program, he sat down but forgot to lower the podium. Maddy is tiny, she patiently waited for him to lower it to the very lowest it could go when her dad nudged him and the congregation was giggling. (For a minute, I thought they might need to get the step stool.) I watched as my quiet, reserved daughter stood at the pulpit, and read her talk as if it weren't her first time. When she sat down, a little piece of my heart grew. She proved to me what a brave, strong girl she is.