[CrimsonTide4]

Subject: Prize Fights (2 of 5) Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2003 10:58:35 -0400

"No, part of the art of making winning decisions is knowing when to fight and what you're fighting for. I recall a situation with one of my children's teachers in elementary school. When my son came home with a long face, I asked him what was wrong. He revealed that he felt his teacher had been too hard on him that day. She had forced him to read in front of his class even though he was embarrassed and shy. I immediately reacted like any father would: the proud papa who wants to defend his little cub. My son encouraged me to talk to him teacher and tell her to leave him alone. He wanted me to tell her that he shouldn't have to read in front of everyone if he didn't want to. I told him that I would like to wait another day or two and then talk to his teacher. During that interval, I considered what was at stake. I could take on his teacher and defend my little angle, which was how I had reacted inside. But I asked myself, What would I gain by doing this? It not only seemed that I might not have anything to win in this battle, I clearly might lose the respect of his teacher. On the other hand, if I cooled off a day or two and then talked to her calmly, maybe I could understand the motive in her handling of my son. Maybe this battle was not a battle at all. As I came to find out from his teacher later, all the children were required to read in front of the class--my son just happened to go first. As she lifted the benefits of practicing oral literacy, I more than agreed with her approach. We even worked together so that my son could practice reading aloud more at home, a decision he didn't like at first but one that was ultimately for his good."

T. D. Jakes