July 24, 2020

Shrinking Violet, Shouting Stone ~ Valerie Ronald


One of my earliest childhood memories is the scent of clean cotton warmed by my mother’s skin. Her full skirts offered a shy little girl a safe place to hide from inquisitive adults trying to engage her in conversation. I remember being just the right height to grasp the fullest part of her skirt and roll myself into her side. Childish logic told me if I couldn’t see the person trying to speak to me then I wouldn’t have to answer. If I was particularly reticent, my mother had to disentangle me from her skirt before she could move.

Nowadays I prefer to call myself an introvert rather than shy, although I still find it difficult to extend myself to strangers and social gatherings often exhaust me rather than energize. I am quite content with my own company much of the time. Deliberate socialization is something I need to work at. I admit when COVID-19 hit, I secretly rejoiced in having permission to stay at home. Not to say I don’t enjoy people but prefer a few close friends or family to unfamiliar crowds. 

How did I end up here? I asked myself the first time I stepped up to a microphone to address a large group of women. That question and the memory of hiding in my mother’s skirts often comes to mind before I speak publicly. The response to the question is what gives me courage to unroll from the skirt of shyness and speak with confidence. Not confidence in myself, for like Moses, I am not eloquent and my shyness often makes me slow of speech and tongue. My confidence is in God, whose promise to Moses is the same to me, “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (Ex.3:12)

 God has chosen to place me in opportune situations to share His good news.

 ~ Good news too important to keep to myself. 

~ Good news emboldening me to look each person in the eye with a holy joy bubbling up inside as I tell what it means to me.

~ Good news able to make all the difference in the lives of my listeners. 

I speak about the Gospel - the good news of forgiveness, hope, joy and new life found in a relationship with Jesus, my living Savior. God’s extraordinary direction comes through opportunities to tell His story and mine to guests at Christian Women’s Clubs throughout Canada and the United States.

 In Luke 19 the Pharisees criticized Jesus for allowing His disciples to shout accolades of praise to Him as made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. 
“I tell you,” He replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40 NIV) 

 If God can use inanimate stones to proclaim the deity of His Son, I know He can use a reticent introvert like myself. He is the only reason this shrinking violet has become a shouting stone. No cause or campaign could stir me to speak like I love to speak about Jesus. When I speak about Him I feel His passion giving strength to my voice, His truth enlivening my words, His love shining from my eyes upon the people listening. I am no preacher, but I know intimately what He has done for me and what He means to me and I cannot help but share it. Occasionally God gives me the gift of hearing how some part of my story was influential in a woman giving her heart to Him. This fills me with abundant joy and praise for the One who saved her. 

 Sometimes when I am giving a talk I experience a sort of “out-of-body” view of the whole scene and have an internal laugh. It reminds me of the story of someone finding a turtle on a fence post. How did a creature unable to climb vertically arrive atop a fence post except by someone putting it there? Only God could take a shy introvert, flood her with exciting news about Himself and then put her on multiple “fence posts” from which to share it with many others needing to hear. 

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus.” 
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 - 14 NIV 

 Valerie Ronald lives in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. She is a graduate of Vancouver's Langara College journalism program, and has worked as a newspaper reporter, freelance writer, public speaker and bookstore employee. Valerie finds being a member of the Manitoba Christian Writers Association has honed her writing skill and confidence. She writes devotionals for her home church bulletins and her online blog. Her current book project chronicles how God's faithfulness saw her through the dark valleys of divorce and cancer. Along with her husband, Valerie enjoys spending time with their blended family and six grandchildren. She is a nature photographer, water colorist, cat lover and Scrabble addict.

More of her devotionals can be read on her blog   https://scriptordeus.wordpress.com

15 comments:

  1. Loved this, Valerie. I can so relate! I'm one of those turtles too! The first time I was asked to speak at a women's retreat I thought it would be just a few ladies (this was in Alaska and I assumed it was like the Yukon where everything was small). Not so! There were over 200 women there from all over the north. I was terrified and stared at the floor most of the time but when I got home our pastor said, "I hear we have a speaker in our midst!" I litearlly looked over my shoulder to see who he was talking to! God has such a sense of humour! Blessings, Marcia Laycock

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    1. Thank you, Marcia. I believe God can use each unique life story, whether told verbally or written, to reach others for Him. I'm glad you are willing to share your story.

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  2. Valerie, I so enjoyed reading about your life journey which has been so beautifully expressed in this post. I am drawn to this sentence of yours: Only God could take a shy introvert, flood her with exciting news about Himself and then put her on multiple “fence posts” from which to share it with many others needing to hear." Yes, for me too, it's the exciting news about Himself - that's what compels me, us, to reach out to others.

    Thank you, Valerie!
    Brenda

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    1. You're welcome, Brenda, and thanks for your comment. When I think about the difference Jesus has made in my life, I want others to experience the joy, peace and strength He gives, even though it means going beyond my comfort zone.

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  3. I'm glad to know another introvert. Like you, I prefer to be alone or with a small group. And in every army, snipers are required to deal with enemies from a far off. That's my job apparently. How wonderful that God can deploy shy folks like us. He made me a Jude 3 dude.

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    1. Bruce, that makes you a "contender for the faith", a most useful soldier in the Lord's army, shyness included. Thanks for commenting.

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  4. The analogy of the turtle is very apt. I also like the photo - I have a heart shaped stone that i found on a beach when i was a child.

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    1. My daughter collects heart-shaped stones that she keeps in a clay bowl on her table. They remind me of God turning our heart of stone into a heart of flesh. He is such a life-changer!

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  5. Thanks for this beautifully written and inspiring blog, Valerie. I’ve hear the story of the turtle on the fence post before, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard it used so clearly as a life lesson. Isn’t it amazing how God can take a shy, introverted person like you or me or Moses excited enough to share the message God gives us. I definitely don’t have the speaking itinerary God has given you, but I too am able to give a reason for the hope that is in me. May God continue to bless you and use you as one of his spokesperson.

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  6. Thanks for commenting, Sharon. Many writers tend to be introverts because we live inside our head in order to create, so to be called to public speaking is quite a stretch. Only the Spirit's empowering
    makes it possible.

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  7. Thanks, Valerie, for stepping out of your comfort zone and allowing God to speak through you. May you continue to do so and may you continue to be blessed.

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    1. Thanks for commenting, Sharon. Allowing God to speak through me is truly a privilege.

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  8. Valerie, it is testimonies like yours and Moses' that provided me the courage to speak at my first ladies' meeting. God does like to use introverts to spread His word!

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  9. Marnie, I think God chooses introverts to speak for Him because He knows we can only do so in His strength, certainly not our own. Thanks for the encouragement.

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    1. Thank you Valerie, for sharing how God uses you in public speaking, even with your shyness. It reminds me of what Paul said, that God's strength is made perfect in weakness.s But as you wrote, He has a higher purpose, placing you "in opportune situations to share His good news."

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