The Power of a Trophy
To most this trophy means very little, if not anything. But, to me, it is the world! This was a pleasant reminder to me that I think will refresh your memories, too. You see, our neighbor’s son had a new baby boy recently and we were all over the moon for a healthy bouncy baby boy to join the family! Their first son, I met when he was just turning two years old, he is now turning 6 this summer. He and I had an immediate connection the very first time we met. He had come outdoors that day holding a stuffed doll, he came up to me and just starred. I immediately started talking to him asking him questions and he soon just wanted to sit on my lap. The bond was made!
Through the years we became good friends, he helps me garden for the past few summers and it just thrills me to teach him the different seed we’re planting and to watch them grow along with him. He is curious, he is kind, and he wants to learn about things. He come over to help me weed and pick vegetables and it warms my heart. When we’re not in the garden, he likes to come over to do art projects. I have plenty! My office has paints, canvas, paper, crayons and all the makings of a fun afternoon! It fills my heart with joy spending time with this young boy.
While we were standing out in the garden last year, mid summer, his mom and dad walked over to show me the ultrasound as they were expecting a new baby! Both the little boy and I were so excited and I shared with him that it is so special to be a big brother one day. You will get to show your new baby all the things that you have learned and are learning one day. Soon the big day came and he now had a baby brother! Woo-Hoo!
Mom and Dad had asked if they could come over to introduce their new son and I rolled out the red carpet! I knew my friend was coming over, too and I had some crafts ready for him so that I could hold his little brother and talk with his parents. They didn’t stay long, things to do and places to go, but, I was grateful that they shared their family with me! After seeing my little friend be so kind and helpful I had an idea. I ordered some small trophies on Amazon and thought I’d give him one for being the BEST BIG BROTHER!
The next time they came over, I asked him, “do you know what a trophy is?” And his answer was yes, but that he didn’t have one. So I asked him if I could present him with one because I think is the BEST BIG BROTHER, so kind, so helpful and thoughtful and that he deserved his very own trophy. Well, his eyes lit up from here to the moon! A simple little 7” trophy that had his name on it, it was his, he earned it and he deserved it! We talked about earning a trophy, you don’t just get one, you must earn one. Soon he wanted to know if he helped around the house and did good things if he would earn another trophy. This was now up to his mom and dad of course.
For the next few times that he came over he always shared about his trophy and how proud he is of earning one, as he should be by the way. Well, this past weekend he saw me outside and came over to help me in the garden, we picked some yellow squash and radishes, checked out the tomatoes and peppers then picked some basil. I asked his Nana if we could go inside and wash them and bring them back to his home. Naturally, he had to check out my office of fun and saw my huge yellow crayola crayon and was curious why I had it, and why it was so big! I shared that Miss Joni’s favorite color is this golden yellow and that her daughter had gotten her this as a present one day. He wanted to know if it really worked as to get me to take it out of the package and let him use it! I know games!! I said that we couldn’t use it, but it did color and as a matter of fact I had another big tin of this very pretty golden color crayons. He wanted one to draw me a picture and I said, “oh, what will you draw, a sunflower or maybe a bright yellow sunshine?”
“No” he said, I’m going to make you a trophy! Well, be still my heart! We sat at the kitchen table the picture shared is his own creation! It will be very special to me as I got to see how important the trophy that I gave to him was, and now this one is very special to me.
The moral of the story is that we never know what a child is going to cling onto, so take the time to answer curious questions, share things of interest and engage them in conversations and activities that make their hearts full of excitement, your heart will beat a little faster, your smile a little brighter and you will make a difference in the life of a child.
If you’re working on character development with your children, visit us here for Certificates of Achievements. Encouragement goes a long, long way!
Miss Joni