The Golden Tennis Lesson


I was sitting on the other side of the chain link fence watching my granddaughter’s first tennis lesson. The sunny skies and gentle breeze were a warm welcome.

The teenage teachers were patient and friendly. They played warm-up games and had the little ones safely swinging rackets in no time. 


A woman, whom I assumed was the tennis program director, was helping too. When a child felt awkward or scared, she played a tennis ball-bouncing game with them. I could tell she loved tennis—and motivating kids—she found a way to compliment them even when they missed the ball.


During a quick break I joined the small group of four and five year olds. We gathered together and sipped from our water bottles. In the blunt honesty five-year-olds possess, a boy asked the director, “Why do you have a gold foot?”


“Oh! Do you like my gold foot?” She lifted it for all of us to see. Her prosthetic foot was indeed golden. “A car ran over my foot when I was younger, and my doctor had to take my foot off. But God gave me this beautiful golden foot.”


The explanation didn’t seem to faze the kids; they were fascinated with all she could do with it. “I love going barefoot, and I can run and play tennis.”


Maybe these kids were learning more than tennis. I know I did. I saw a woman who not only loved teaching kids, but she was encouraging us to keep trying even when life brings something challenging to live with.


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