Friday, January 23, 2009

My Christmas Highlight

My favorite part of Christmas 2008 actually came before Christmas. Jacob was asked to speak in church. If you don't personally know this boy, I'll put it lightly by saying he has the gift of gab. He likes to talk (in fact he rarely stops) and he was really excited to get to talk in church.

Usually children just give talks in primary to the other children, which he LOVES to do, but this time he got to give a talk in sacrament meeting to everyone. He gave a talk in sacrament meeting for the primary program (and did a great job) so he was thrilled to be able to do it again.

Now as the mother, I have a different point of view on the whole thing. I was excited for him, especially since he was so happy about it, but also nervous. He wanted to "write" it himself. So we talked about what he wanted to say and I wrote down what he told me to.

He would practice and sometimes at night I could hear him in his room repeating what he wanted to say to Josh. The thing that brought fear to my heart was knowing that Jake could get up there and say ANYTHING! (He is only five let's remember.) BUT it never ever crossed my mind that the exact opposite of my fears would come true.

That Sunday finally came and he was ready as ever. My mom had been able to come early for Christmas so she could hear him speak in church. Willie and I were singing in the choir, Jake was speaking, and both Josh and Jake were going to be singing with the children's choir, so we all had a little part. It really was exciting!

It was finally time and I took Jacob up to sit on the stand by the microphone before it was his turn. I could tell he was nervous, but who wouldn't be? I know adults that can't stand to speak in public, so I thought he just had some jitters and when it was his turn he'd be fine. Well...

Right as the man singing a solo before his talk was about to finish, he turned to me and said, "I'm not giving my talk." WHAT?! He wasn't joking and there was no changing his mind. I didn't know what to do. It was his turn and he wasn't budging.

I thought maybe if I could just get him up to the microphone he'd start up and be fine. I picked him up (honestly what was I thinking?) and stood him on the stool at the microphone. NOTHING. He really, truly, honestly wasn't going to do it. I was so worried about what he WOULD say, I hadn't even thought about him not saying anything.

I frantically whispered things in his ear trying to get him to talk. I felt like a horrid stage mom coaching her child to perform, which so wasn't the case...he had been so excited just minutes before. It was HORRIBLE and the longer I stood there with him the worse it got.

It felt like we were up there for an eternity for all to see. I honestly didn't know what to do. I was praying in that moment like no other. Finally he hopped off the stool and went back down into the congregation, which left me standing there all alone. Not knowing what else to do, I leaned over the kiddie stool and started giving his talk for him. At this point I really just wanted to disappear.

I saw my mom sit down beside Jacob and low and behold he comes bounding to the stage yelling, "Mom, stop!" Well, by golly, I stopped and had a seat. He climbed right up to that microphone and gave his talk. There were many wet eyes in the audience. He did a great job.

I have never been so relieved and so proud and so grateful and so everything in all of my life. I later asked my mom what she had said to him. When she sat down by him Jacob asked her, "Grandma, why do you look so sad?" When she told him she was sad because he wasn't giving his talk he said, "Oh! I'll give my talk!" and ran right up.

Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if my mom hadn't been there that Sunday and then I stop myself from thinking about it and just thank my lucky stars she was. I guess my favorite and least favorite part of Christmas this year were one and the same.

I had a hard time getting the video from my camera to load, so I recorded the talk on his camera (which isn't as quality) and it worked. This is in essence the talk he gave Christmas Sunday. (Try to picture him in a suit and tie standing at the pulpit...)

Of course never to be outdone, here is Josh who also knows the scripture Jacob learned for his talk. Willie was amazed when he realized Josh had memorized this. I just had to giggle.

I never realized how much the younger sibling benefits from learning along with the older one. (Figures that I would be the oldest!) They both just amaze me and I'm grateful to me their mom.