Proud-Parents Moment

From a very proud mom:
Last Thursday Ensay brought home a beautiful bouquet and this framed pictures after the last water polo game of the season. Even though he couldn't play for last two years due to his illness, he was recognized at senior night for his service to the team by score keeping and running the desk through out his junior and senior years. So proud of him for his faithfulness and strong character! Also very thankful to the team parents who dug up the pictures to find Ensay's picture of playing the game two years ago...

From a very proud dad:
I told Ensay that not giving up or clamming up is what makes this dad very proud.  It was almost like grabbing the lion (called severe aplastic anemia) launching toward him head on by its mane and thrusting it away from him as he spins around (much like in judo or aikido) as he stands up like a champ.  I am also grateful for having a community recognizing his efforts in this special way.

I was reminded of Luke 14:7-14 (see below) where Jesus teaches us to take the humblest position until we are recognized by others.  As Young Joo mentioned above, the two years of serving instead of playing with the guys must not have been easy, but I am very thankful for a beautiful closure.

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⁷ When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: ⁸ “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. ⁹ If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. ¹¹ For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
¹² Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. ¹³ But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴ and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”