Whimsical 25: Naught and Grateful

 It's your summer holidays. You are training towards the National School Games badminton tournament at the Jurong West sports hall. Your coach is this awesome yet innocent, inspiring yet less stressing guy- who ensures all his students get to their full potential through inspiration and not through stress. Even if it is a friendly match, he makes sure that the competition doesn't turn hostile. He understands kids, chides them in a friendly tone - every child strives to their full potential without having to bear the weight of the stressful win. 

You have made good friends at the training group, most of them not our tribe. There's this guy who claims himself to be an international player and gives verdicts beforehand as to who wins the tournament Vs who doesn't. There's the young innocent boy, who picked the nuances of the game and uses a single strategy to win opponents. There's the secondary school boy, who comes rarely but has a quiet focus whenever he comes. There's the two senior girls who come often and assist the coach greatly. 

 We are nearing the end of vacation and your coach is planning a mini tournament on the last day. The day before the last day, he gifts a racket for some of his most diligently potential students. There are four of them including you. He distributes them and gives you all a pep talk- "Nothing comes for free, this is a prize for your diligent hard work and for the potential you exhume. Your parents are spending a fortune, so make every penny worth the spend". He is very serious as he delivers this lecture. You are all attentive. He concludes with, "Do you understand?", and one of you begins clapping. The remaining three join the clapping ordeal and you comment, "That was a good talk". I am amused at this naughty comment, equally worried about the coach's reaction. The cool guy he is, he understands these are part of being the early teens you guys are and ignores it completely. My respect for him grows two notches.

Later that day, as we stroll home on the way back, I remind you of how God has blessed you with good mentors and the importance of gratefulness. You agree. When I probe with the naughty comment, you are rather appreciative of your coach with, "it was indeed a memorable talk". I trust you this time. Gratefulness and humility will take you to wonderful places and opportunities.