One Sunday not too long ago, our family had just sat down in a pew at church and was trying to get settled right before the meeting was about to begin. The bishop came up to us and asked if I could say the opening prayer and if Joe could say the closing. We said "sure," and as he turned around headed back up to the stand, I suddenly panicked. "In English or in Spanish?!!!" Now, when it comes to praying, I do it a lot. My prayers aren't memorized--they come straight from the heart. Spanish doesn't come from my heart. So I haven't really practiced prayers in the language. But I wanted the congregation to know that I'm at least trying to get better at speaking it. You bond better.
I heard the prelude to the opening song and noticed we'd be singing 4 verses. Sweet--it'd give me a little time. I turned to Joe and he helped me write down a few things I'd like to say. I said them over and over and then when it was time for me to open the meeting with prayer, I stood up and walked to the front...with my tiny notes in hand. I was slightly embarrassed by this, but there was just one line I couldn't remember! I made it through without peeking until the very last line. "Please help your Spirit to be with us in our meetings." I cracked just one eye to find the word I needed in Spanish, and closed my prayer. I went back down to sit with the fam and Joe leaned over and whispered,
"You did a great job! Just remember-- 'meetings' is 'reuniones' not 'reniones'--that's kidneys."
I started to laugh. I couldn't stop. "Please help your Spirit to be with us in our kidneys." Nice. First time I try to sneak notes for a prayer and that's what I get. Ha! Maybe they'll never ask me to pray in public again down here--at least without a little more notice :)
2 comments:
haha
=D
That's great :)
Post a Comment