Cody has never been able to go up in front of people at church. He's always been too scared. Whether it was giving a talk or prayer in primary, singing a song in Sacrament meeting with the primary kids for Mother's Day, or the annual primary presentation in Sacrament meeting he has never been able to go through with it, despite all our efforts to help.
Well, our ward primary presentation was a big break-through this year. Two months before the program Cody and Kylee both prayed every day that they would be brave enough to go up and sing with the other primary kids. Actually, we all prayed. The week before the program Cody and Kylee had their parts memorized and talked like they were going to go through with it. And although we had prayed and prepared many times before this time seemed different. Especially with Cody.
The morning of the program at breakfast I asked Cody if he was going to do it. He confidently said yes (which had never happened before). Right after the sacrament before the Bishop stood up to invite the children up to the front of the chapel, Cody (who was sitting on the end of the row) sat right on the edge of the bench with one leg out in the aisle ready to jump up. I had to tell him a few times to wait until the Bishop was done talking (I couldn't believe his eagerness!! Previously, he would be glued to the middle of the bench with no chance of budging at this point).
As soon as the Bishop finished, Cody jumped up and started walking up to the front. He turned for a second to wave Kylee to come with him, but she said she had to go to the bathroom and she was looking pretty hesitant. I told Cody to go ahead but I don't think he waited around long enough to hear me. He was too excited. So while all the other kids and teachers were heading up to the front, Kylee and I went against the flow and went to the bathroom. I really hoped she would still be able to go through with it once we got back. We hurried as fast as we could and as soon as we got towards the front of the chapel I could feel her pulling backwards on my hand and wanting to turn around. Luckily, she has a wonderful teacher this year who saw us approaching, met us halfway up the stairs, and we did a quick pass before Kylee had a chance to change her mind.
When it came time for Cody to say his part in the microphone he stepped up to the podium and said his part perfectly clear and without any hesitation. You would never guess that he struggled with getting in front of people. It was a miracle. Steve and I both teared up immediately. We were so proud of what he had accomplished!! Kylee, however, did not stand up to the microphone and say her part. But, we were just as proud of her because she went up there--and stayed up there--for the entire program (something Cody was never able to do at her age). Both of them were super heroes to us!
Since then Cody seems to have gotten over his fear. He was assigned to say the scripture of the month in Primary last week and did a great job! He has also prayed in our home when we have had visitors (he loves to say the prayer when he's called on, but he never wanted to do it if anyone besides our own family was there).
Watching our children during our primary program was one of the best parenting moments I've ever had. Seeing your kids work at something that is challenging for them and seeing them overcome their fears is amazing. And I'm grateful for the lesson that we all learned from it: we know that we can pray and work for something and see miracles!
Well, our ward primary presentation was a big break-through this year. Two months before the program Cody and Kylee both prayed every day that they would be brave enough to go up and sing with the other primary kids. Actually, we all prayed. The week before the program Cody and Kylee had their parts memorized and talked like they were going to go through with it. And although we had prayed and prepared many times before this time seemed different. Especially with Cody.
The morning of the program at breakfast I asked Cody if he was going to do it. He confidently said yes (which had never happened before). Right after the sacrament before the Bishop stood up to invite the children up to the front of the chapel, Cody (who was sitting on the end of the row) sat right on the edge of the bench with one leg out in the aisle ready to jump up. I had to tell him a few times to wait until the Bishop was done talking (I couldn't believe his eagerness!! Previously, he would be glued to the middle of the bench with no chance of budging at this point).
As soon as the Bishop finished, Cody jumped up and started walking up to the front. He turned for a second to wave Kylee to come with him, but she said she had to go to the bathroom and she was looking pretty hesitant. I told Cody to go ahead but I don't think he waited around long enough to hear me. He was too excited. So while all the other kids and teachers were heading up to the front, Kylee and I went against the flow and went to the bathroom. I really hoped she would still be able to go through with it once we got back. We hurried as fast as we could and as soon as we got towards the front of the chapel I could feel her pulling backwards on my hand and wanting to turn around. Luckily, she has a wonderful teacher this year who saw us approaching, met us halfway up the stairs, and we did a quick pass before Kylee had a chance to change her mind.
When it came time for Cody to say his part in the microphone he stepped up to the podium and said his part perfectly clear and without any hesitation. You would never guess that he struggled with getting in front of people. It was a miracle. Steve and I both teared up immediately. We were so proud of what he had accomplished!! Kylee, however, did not stand up to the microphone and say her part. But, we were just as proud of her because she went up there--and stayed up there--for the entire program (something Cody was never able to do at her age). Both of them were super heroes to us!
Since then Cody seems to have gotten over his fear. He was assigned to say the scripture of the month in Primary last week and did a great job! He has also prayed in our home when we have had visitors (he loves to say the prayer when he's called on, but he never wanted to do it if anyone besides our own family was there).
Watching our children during our primary program was one of the best parenting moments I've ever had. Seeing your kids work at something that is challenging for them and seeing them overcome their fears is amazing. And I'm grateful for the lesson that we all learned from it: we know that we can pray and work for something and see miracles!
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