Quote of the Day

We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more.
— Madame Swetchine 

Verse of the Day

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
— 2 Corinthians 11:30

And then. . . 

Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your biggest strength. Take, forexample, the story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite thefact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. 

The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well,so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training the master had taughthim only one move. 

"Sensei," the boy finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?" 

"This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need toknow," the sensei replied. 

Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. 

Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprisinghimself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to bemore difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged;the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success,the boy was now in the finals. 

This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while,the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, thereferee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the senseiintervened. 

"No," the sensei insisted, "Let him continue." 

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he droppedhis guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won thematch and the tournament. He was the champion. 

On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and everymatch. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. 

"Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?" 

"You won for two reasons," the sensei answered. "First, you've almost masteredone of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defensefor that move is for your opponent to grap your left arm." 

The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength. 

— Bits & Pieces, August 15, 1996, Economic Press Inc.

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