My Daughter, My Hero
by Frank Francis

Life lessons can be found anywhere and often come from the strangest sources. Here’s one that came full circle on me.

I have a daughter who at the time of this writing is eighteen and attends Texas A&M. I often refer to her as my hero (or heroin to be gender correct) because of the integrity she walks in. She possesses strong character, balance, focus, faith, and unwavering determination. She possesses them because her mother and I put them in her.

It was the summer of 1995 and we had decided to visit Six Flags theme park in Arlington, Texas. I was overly excited about this trip because as a child my parents would bring me to Six Flags every year…sometimes twice or even three times. Naturally I wanted to share this experience with my daughter, Tatyana, who at that time was a ripe age of nine.

After spending the night in a hotel in Arlington, we arrived at the front gates of Six Flags dressed in full battle gear…shorts, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, caps, etc. Tatyana had saved a little money for the trip and decided that my wallet would be a better custodian for her treasured few dollars than her shorts pocket (wise choice). So, we rode, spun, flipped, splashed, and walked over and over the campus of the theme park. Her little eyes were constantly scanning everywhere for the perfect item to purchase with her tiny stash of money. She would look at teddy bears, trinkets, souvenirs, you name it…she was considering it.

It was the year our hometown basketball team, The Houston Rockets, won the championship and that had a great influence on Tatyana. She loved sports, especially basketball…at least that year. As we approached the gaming center, she stopped and said, “Dad, I know what I want to spend my money on!”

Oh! I saw it coming! I cringed inside. I knew she was going to throw her money away on those games trying to win a prize. “I want to shoot the basketball hoops! Let me have my money…please!” she continued.

Out it popped, “Taty (her nick name), that’s a foolish waste of money. These games are fixed so it’s almost impossible to win.”

Without blinking an eye she repeated. “Dad, please let me have my money…please. I want to win a Rockets basket ball!”

Standing in front of us were three teen boys desperately attempting the shots and missing every time. PERFECT! There’s nothing like a living illustration of futile attempts. I stood my ground, pointed to the young men and drove the example home to my daughter, “See those guys…those big boys? Look at how they’re trying and failing. They’re much older than you and they can’t win. What do you think your chances are? Huh?”

Tatyana turned and looked at me with the most solemn face I can remember seeing on any nine year old. With a poker face, she spoke truth that I had planted in her, “Dad…they’re not me.”

What could I say? This was my own lesson coming back to me. With that, I reached in my wallet and pulled out a dollar and handed it to her. She paid the attendant and took the basketball in her tiny little hands. With one hand on top and one hand on the bottom, she peered at the goal for what seemed an eternity. Then, she rolled the ball back, stepped back with one leg and thrust the ball into the air. The shot was way too high, so it appeared. But, the height of the arch was what she was calculating for. With precision accuracy, the ball slid right through the goal without so much as touching the rim of the goal. WOOSH!!!! PERFECT SHOT!!! I could not believe it! My eyes and the eyes of everyone around were as big as a cat’s in a tub of water! “Dad. Give me another dollar…please.”

Not again I thought! This was a one in a hundred chance and she wanted to go again. “My dollar…please.”

Off she went again. WOOSH!!! PERFECT SHOT…AGAIN!!!

That evening, Tatyana spent four dollars and made four baskets! I didn’t know what to do with all the basketballs she had won. We were bouncing them all around the theme park for the rest of the evening. It was a lesson I’ll NEVER forget. YOU CAN’T LET OTHER PEOPLES FAILURES OR SUCCESSES BE THE BARAMATOR FOR YOUR LIFE. THEY’RE NOT YOU!

The truth is, we all do that from time to time. Take the lesson from my hero, my daughter, and you just might find more balls in your court than you counted on.

What was it that Jesus said? “We must be like little children.” That my friends, will make you a winner!

Stay Blessed,
Frank

© 2004 Frank Francis