CONFIDENCE and the power of encouragement .  Compared to the other players on my soccer team, there was one boy who stood out—not because of his skills at first, but because of his very short stature. Still, he had a pleasant charisma and was always present at training. Sometimes, though, he didn’t show up or arrived late to the games. That inconsistency caught my attention.

One afternoon after practice, I asked him why he hadn’t come to play. He looked down and said, “I don’t think I can contribute much to the team... I’m very small.”

Hearing that, I replied, “Do you know that when you kick the ball, your shot is very strong? And you’re more skillful than many of the others.” Then I said, “I have an idea. I’m going to talk to your parents because I have a plan to help you become a lion.”

After speaking with his parents, they agreed to let him train one additional day each week. So that’s what we did, throughout the season.

The result? A remarkable transformation.
He became one of our top scorers, a regular starter, and more importantly, his attitude changed. He grew more confident, more positive—and he began to believe in himself.

By the end of the championship, everyone still called him “the lion” of the playing field.

Moral of the story:
Support—especially from parents—makes a world of difference. Spend time with your children. Encourage them. Help them grow strong roots so the goodness within them can flourish into something joyful and lasting.