4th and Goal Commentary - April 3, 2001
From Delinquent to Dean's List
By Bill McCartney
There's an old saying: "Show me a parent who cares and I'll
show you a child who learns."
I'm Bill McCartney... It's 4TH and Goal!
Wes Moore started life with three strikes against him. He was
an African-American boy trapped in an inner-city ghetto. His father
had died and he showed all the signs of a boy rapidly spinning out of control.
He would put smoke bombs in lockers and get in trouble with the police.
His mother, Joy, juggled three jobs in order to give Wes and his
two siblings an education. She was their only ticket out of the ghetto.
She purchased sports books to get Wes to read. She set up a trophy
wall to showcase her children's schoolwork. She took them to concerts
and lectures to stretch their minds. And, more importantly, she never
gave up on them.
Wes was commissioned by the U.S. Army as the youngest second lieutenant
ever and now attends prestigious John Hopkins University. He was
recently recognized as a Rhodes scholar. Stephen Joel Trachtenberg,
who chaired the selection committee said: "This kid, Wes Moore, just knocked
us out."
So, what made the difference? Wes attributes his success to
his mom: "I can say. . . without my mom working and sacrificing the way
she did, being the example of hard work and humility that she was, that
[none] of the other intangibles would. . . have mattered."
Guys, there will be times when it seems that our kids don't appreciate
the things we do for them. But, let's not let that stop us.
Tonight, let's take some time to read a few books to our kids. Better
yet, instead of just buying them something as a way to show them that we
love them, let's give them the investment of time and affirmation instead.
When they do well at school, let them know how proud you are of them.
Reward them with a date with dad, a family pizza night, or a few rounds
of their favorite board game. And, most of all, don't scrimp on the
hugs! Every little thing we do to tell our kids we love them
makes a difference. Wes Moore will attest to that.
I'm Coach Bill McCartney.
Source Material: Valerie Strauss, "Payoff on a Parent's Persistence,"
Washington Post, January 23, 2001, p. A7.
"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is He who
trusts in the Lord." - Proverbs 16:20.
Copyright (c) 2000 Promise Keepers.
4th and Goal - Coaching for Life's Tough Calls, with Bill McCartney,
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