I’ll never get over how intimately God is involved in our lives. On Saturday I was talking to a friend about me speaking at my children’s school today. She was nice enough to listen to my little speech, giving me a chance to practice. I have no problem writing, but I’m totally shy when it comes to public speaking and after our conversation, I started to already feel nervous. Really nervous! And the presentation was two days away! My heart was racing and her daughter and my daughters (all great public speakers), all gave me advice, but that didn’t help. But, God, knowing every thought we think had the perfect encouragement in my 5 pm appointment with Him.
I found a quiet spot and the very book and page I opened to on my phone was astonishingly the story of Oprah Winfrey’s first celebrity interviews. It just so happened that she was given five minutes to interview each celebrity and I was given 5 minutes for my speech, so I totally took that as a God wink, no coincidence! In her book, ‘What I Know For Sure,’ here’s how Oprah described that day:
“There were throngs of local newscasters, entertainment/lifestyle reporters, each given five minutes to interview an actor from the season’s upcoming lineup. I started to feel nervous. Uncomfortable. Inept. (Me on Saturday reading this!) Not good enough to be there with all these other reporters from much bigger cities with more experience than I.
For some reason-you might call it a coincidence; I call it grace in action-I was switched from the Priscilla Presley line to interview a young comedian who was starting a new show called Mork & Mindy. What followed were five of the most exhilarating, wild, off-the-charts minutes I’d ever spent in an interview, with the most uninhibited, out-of-the-box, free-falling-in-every-second celebrity/human I’d ever met. He wasn’t afraid to be his many selves. I had a great fun playing with Robin Williams, and I learned in that instant to go where the interview takes you. He was all over the place, and I had to flow with it.
So when my turn came to talk to Miss Priscilla, I had received the lesson: You can’t accomplish anything worthwhile if you inhibit yourself. If life teaches you nothing else, know this: When you get the chance, go for it.”
Here’s the deal:
Sometimes you just have to leave your comfort zone and go for it, knowing God is with you every step of the way! I’m thrilled I did! You guys should have seen me with the microphone interviewing the students, as if I was Oprah Winfrey!
Dear God,
Thank You that no matter what we’re going through, You’re always right there with us holding our hands. Your love is all we need. Amen.
WE ROLL WITH GOD