Competitive swimming was a big part of my life as a teenager, so I was thrilled when my sons decided to take up the sport. Daily, I’d arrive a few minutes early before their practice ended so I could watch their progress, assess their strokes for later discussions and give them a few tips on how to swim faster. However, one afternoon at the pool, someone else caught my attention.
The teen girl was not the typical swimmer. Her old, out-of-date swimsuit was two sizes too big with a shoestring tied tightly in the back between the two back shoulder straps, holding it in place.
She struggled to reach the end of the pool, always last and always being passed by the better-trained girls. The other girls would wait for their friends to climb out of the pool, giggle and run back to the starting blocks. Nobody waited for her. She walked back to the starting blocks alone. However, day after day, she’d show up for practice and do it all over again in her old, worn shoestring-rigged swimsuit.
The first swim meet finally arrived, and I smiled as I watched my sons stand as team members on the deck around the pool. I was a proud mother, but then, I saw the girl who had struggled day after day to swim to the end of the pool.
She wasn’t wearing the old, shoestring tied swimsuit. She was wearing a cool, new Speedo swimsuit with a matching swim cap and goggles. I smiled again. Someone took the time to buy the new swimsuit gear for her so she could feel and look like a winner regardless of how fast she could swim. She never did find out who bought the gift for her. The person remains anonymous. 🙂
Do you ever wonder how you can help a teen? Take time to notice your surroundings. Is there a teen in your life who needs encouragement or help? Be the one who makes a difference in her life.
