For thirty years, I’ve had a big, scary monkey on my back.

He hopped on when I was a Primary child playing “Families Can Be Together Forever” in sacrament meeting and has been my hairy, annoying, paralyzing companion ever since. Even though I knew the piece by heart and could play it with my eyes closed (literally), I made a mistake and was so mortified that I swore I’d never play in front of people again . . . especially NOT sacrament meeting!

Thirty years later, I have been called to play piano in Primary. Playing for singing time each Sunday is a nerve-wracking experience, but I make it through by reminding myself that they are just sweet children who don’t really care if I make mistakes or not. But I knew that the time was fast approaching that I’d have to suck it up and play in sacrament meeting.

Yesterday morning, I awoke and knew that the Monkey and I were about to have a showdown. By the end of the day, I would have broken the thirty-year silence and played “Mother I Love You” in sacrament meeting. It’s such a simple song, but the Monkey had a way of making even easy things go awry.

Armed with a priesthood blessing and lots of personal prayer, I managed to make the long walk up to the piano at the appointed time.

As I sat down on the bench, my heart raced.
My hands shook.
The monkey dug his sharp claws into my back and clung for dear life.

But through the mercy of a loving Heavenly Father, I made it through without making an error.

Be gone with you, you bad, bad, monkey!