Surprise! You're giving a talk!

Well as you all know, I just got back from vacation in NY (a post on that will follow soon) Saturday night. The following day I went to church happy and carefree. I expected the usual: chatting with my friends about Breaking Dawn and trying to ignore Pierce's jerk-like behavior. But what I got was a panic attack. I was having a deep discussion with my friends about the final book in the Twilight Saga when Mom, after opening the program, suddenly turned to me and said, "Becci! You're giving a talk today!" My first reaction was "Oh crap." I had completely forgotten that two weeks ago I was asked to give a talk on the Law of the Fast that Sunday. I felt so horrible about it because usually I am a very organized person and remember these sort of things. To me, forgetting to write my talk was like forgetting to write an essay for school only this was more along the lines of public humiliation than a bad grade. So I went up and told the Bishopric. They told me just to bear my testimony. I didn't really like that idea because I thought it would be too short and I wanted something more substantial in my talk if you know what I mean. Anyway so I rushed down to my seat, said a quick prayer and started frantically flipping through the Topical Guide looking for scriptures. Mom was an angel and found several amazing verses for me. She was such a huge help and I couldn't have done it without her! So all throughout the prayer and Sacrament I'm sitting there hyperventilating and scribbling a brief outline of what I was going to say and how to connect the five verses that at the time seemed so different from each other that I had no idea how to transition from one to the other. But somehow I did it. I ended up talking about how we can fast not only when we are seeking knowledge and blessings but when we are thankful to the Lord too (Alma 45:1). I also elaborated on group or family fasting and the blessings that come from that. I found this great scripture (1 Cor. 7:5) that talked about how when we fast as a group it brings us closer together and we can withstand the temptations of Satan. I read a few other verses and then bore my own testimony on family fasting. The entire time I was up on the stand I felt like I was stuttering and fumbling over all of my words. I had no idea if any of what I was saying made any sense to the audience and I just wanted to get it over with. To my great surprise and joy, everyone loved my talk. I had never received so many compliments on any of my talks before. I told my close friends in the Young Womens the story behind my talk and they were just shocked. I think the best compliment I received that day was from my friend Jennan Lee. She told me that while I was giving my talk she was thinking to herself, "Her dad so helped her write that." It immediately brought a smile to my face because I have always admired my dads ability to write amazing talks and for my thrown together talk to be compared to his is just . . . incredible. Anyway, after the many assurances that I did not sound like a bumbling idiot, I was reasonably satisfied that it went well but I will never do that again. I don't think my nervous system could take that pressure.