Bentley the Shy One

Bentley, it turns out, is a bit on the shy aside.  At least when it comes to church and large groups!

I have no idea where he gets this from.  Perhaps it is his Mother who didn't exactly adore being in front of groups until she was a teenager.  I hear tales I was the only 5 year old with my back to the audience for the entire Kindergarten show performance. I turned out okay though.  I think!

Every Sunday morning one of the Primary kids (the 3-12 group at church) stands up at the front of the church before the meeting beings as the Reverence Child.  They even get to wear an official classy Reverence Child banner.  :-)  A month or so ago Bentley was asked to be the Reverence Child.  We talked it up all week.  He seemed game to at least give it a try.

And, to give him credit, he did go up to the front.  He started out facing forward with his arms folded and a bit of a frown on his face.  Then he started turning sideways and slouching down a bit behind the railing so our little guy was disappearing.  Then... then it got closer to 9 am and too many people were suddenly there.  He lost all composure and starting sobbing.  :-)  Another little boy took his place and finished out the job!  Ah well... first time nerves, right?!

Last week Bentley was asked to give a talk in Primary about "I know that my Redeemer Lives".  He seemed excited when he brought the note about the talk home, turns out the excitement was about getting the mail from the official Primary mail box.  Not so much about any concept of what the note said.  Matt and I asked for his help writing the talk.  He threatened to say only naughty things if he had to speak!  We kept up working with him.  I asked him how he knows that God lives.  He came up with one gem:

"Because he helps the plants grow".

We worked it into the talk.  Some of his other thoughts just couldn't be worked in... :-)

How did the talk go?

Well, he went to the front of the room with his Dad.  And Matt gave a very nice talk on how he knows his Redeemer lives.  Our Bentley started out facing forward but by the end of the traumatic experience had his face buried in his Dad's shirt.

Next time, next time.  It will get easier, little guy!