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Encourage Your Child To Reach For Great Hights
By mstrohm | November 24, 2007
My father loved baseball and due to complaining about a lack of something to do, at age nine I was required to play little league. Three years later I found myself on a competitive team with a coach who had something to prove. This coach yelled and belittled his players. For example, speaking so those of us on the bench could hear him he would mock the child who was up to bat.
That team made the playoffs but due to a family obligation I missed the first practice. Fearing certain ridicule I begged my father not to play anymore. My father agreed. Without my efforts the team went on to win the playoffs. A few weeks later that coach came to my home to pick up my uniform. He carried a small trophy given to each boy on the championship team. This coach handed me the trophy and thanked me for not coming to the playoff games. He clearly indicated that because I did not show up I allowed the best players to stay in the game and I helped win the trophy. He smiled and told me I deserved the trophy! I was so shocked and hurt it took me years to tell my parents what this coach had told me.
As a freshmen in high school I wanted to play a sport. When our school district put in new tennis courts I found myself playing with neighbors and developing an interest in tennis. So I decided to go out for tennis. Fortunately for me there was a shortage of students wanting to play tennis so a caring coach decided to take a chance on a skinny freshman. She told me which racket to buy and took me aside from the rest of the group and encouraged and taught me the basics of tennis. For weeks the tennis team practiced together but I was relegated to a side court or in the gym working on exercises and drills. Those first few games were ugly and leading me to doubt if I should have ever tried to take up a game as a high school freshman. Yet this special coach gave encouragement and stood behind me. By sophomore year I was JV first singles. To this day I have a love for and still play tennis.
Each of these coaches had a significant impact on my life. One discouraged and took away my love for baseball. Another encouraged and inspired me to reach unexpected heights.
As you come into contact with your children each day, I pray you will be an inspiration. May God bless you and use you to encourage and show love.
May God’s grace and peace be with you,
Mark Strohm, Jr.
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