I’m trying really hard to be a grown up. Or, as my son likes to say, I’m “adulting.” Either way, I’m a fan of maturity, but not such a fan of what it takes to get there. Lately, I’m contemplating bra straps and other humiliations.
Life-long Learning. Yuck!
Life-long learning sounds good in theory. I admired it in my parents and grandparents. But, it turns out growing up, especially the growing old part, is not for wimps!
Challenged and Insecure
When the talented and beautiful women of Lake Palestine United Methodist Church invited me to give a speech, I stepped into the challenge. Truthfully, when I heard who’s spoken in years past I had second thoughts. I tend to be insecure that way.
However, part of growing up for me means learning to do all kinds of new things, including public speaking. You’d think I’d love speaking. After all, I never met a microphone I didn’t like. But speeches turn out to be a lot harder than I thought. For example, you only get a few minutes to make your points. Heck, it takes me ten minutes to say hi.
However, with trembling heart, I agreed to speak because I know something worth sharing. Do you know what makes us qualified to be people of influence? It’s a simple matter of being ready.
Easier than We Think
That’s great news. It turns out college degrees and social media platforms are not mandatory prerequisites for influence. Thank heavens! More on building a social media platform later when I figure out how to talk about it without cussing and crying.
I’m seriously committed to creating a social media platform, whether I like it or not. So, I lined up a talented videographer to film the speech for my website. Preparing the speech, I prayed and practiced and prayed some more.
The day came when I gave the speech. I loved the ladies and felt great about encouraging them in their influential lives.
Bra Straps Beware
Then, I saw the video. Boldly perched on my shoulder was my bra strap! I could barely watch.
My friends and consultants assure me that no one will notice the bra strap unless I mention it. Really? Okay, so I decided to devote a whole blog to the bra strap. I think it’s only fair. After all, I wouldn’t want anyone to think that having a positive influence on family and culture is easy for anyone, even poised, polished, and mature people like me. Ha!
You can share the video with friends here. Or, just for you, here it is below. Easy smeasy.
Yep, I went ahead and posted it for all the world to see, bra strap and all. Because it’s not about me or my attire, comical as my attire often is.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the video, otherwise affectionately known in my family as the Bra Strap Speech. I listen with my eyes closed. It’s less distracting that way.
Fortunately, bra straps and other humiliations don’t disqualify us. We are each qualified in ways only a loving heavenly Father can understand and reveal. Readiness is our one prerequisite.
May I pray for you?
Dear Father in heaven, the One who loves us warts and all, please wrap Your arms around us now. Comfort this dear one, no matter what humiliations, minor or catastrophic, are faced today. Show us we are useful to You, sometimes in spite of ourselves! Let us draw courage from Your presence to be the people You made us to be. We need to know Your love in a special way. Open the eyes of our hearts. Let this dear reader recognize a little token of Your unconditional affection today. Teach us to chuckle at ourselves along the way. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Upcoming Adventures, Prayer Needed
Head’s Up – In a few weeks I plan to post some battle-worthy blogs taken from several Fireside Talk Radio episodes. We would appreciate your prayers as I try to do justice to the beautiful stories our friends generously share. For instance, both Doug McSwane, and his daughter Marcie, came on the show recently to talk about how to comfort those dealing with mental health and suicide issues in families. I post those podcasts here. You won’t want to miss those. Please share them with anyone you know who needs comfort.
Recent Comments