{Max's # 1 fan: Markus!}
Even though Max was excited to be invited to the championship game by his coaches, he told me after he received his trophy that it really didn't mean anything to him. The real joy for him comes from playing the game that he loves more than anything. I remember watching with joy as Max’s confidence began to grow when he first started playing baseball three years ago. His shoulders straightened, and his voice became strong. He played with strength and enthusiasm. And I found myself forgetting about trophies and focusing on something much more important. There was my young son, playing a game that he had just started to learn, reaping the reward of his work. Not a physical, glittery reward, but the priceless reward of self esteem. I knew then that the outcome of the games didn’t matter at all. I leaned forward in my seat to take it all in. I listened to the sound of my son's feet as he rounded the last base of his first home run, and I relished his smile—full of shining confidence—as he looked up and proclaimed, “I did it!” |
