TIMID By: Frances M. McCrory-Meservy 1962

I was shy & quiet around new people or in a crowd.

My teachers knew this and tried to bring me out of it. They put me in every play every year and encouraged me. They made me President of the Pep Squad. I was good in front of an audience because I pretended I was someone else and didn't look at the crowd.

During my senior year, after I turned 18, God said, "How can you be my missionary if you are afraid to talk to people?" That got my attention.

I spoke proper English and had no idea how to use slang. I did not know how to talk to most people. I went to Mr. Champion, my English teacher and asked him if there were any books that he would recommend to help me learn how to talk to people. He suggested "How to Talk to Anybody about Anything" and a book on slang. I checked them out and read them.

The gist of the book on talking to people was to say the first thing that pops in your head and people will either think you are brilliant or the funniest person they ever met. I could hardly wait for college to try it out. I instinctively knew I could not change overnight at home. I tell everyone, "half my friends think I am funny and the other half think I am smart."

Years later, I found out that some of my classmates thought I was stuck up because I spoke proper English and was shy. Today folks who did not know me back then can’t believe I was ever shy must less quiet.

2 Tim 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Prov 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.

Background picture of BHS Jr Picture 1960. 

I've Seen & Heard of Jesus by Frances M. McCrory-Meservy

Getting to Know Jesus (Chapter I)

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