See Also:
Beginning of a FAMOUS Hero: The Tom Landry Story.
Life Lesson #38 – Do Your Part.
It was field day at Overland Elementary School, and there were so many things to do, that Jose didn’t see how it could all be done in just one day! By early afternoon, he had entered almost every race and contest there was.
Now it was time for the 3-legged race. Coach Pernici tied Jose’s right leg to his friend’s left leg with a small piece of rope around their ankles. Then it was time to start as the coach blew his whistle. Jose’s friend started trying to run with all of his strength and speed, as though Jose wasn’t even there! They both fell down, and Jose thought his ankle was hurt pretty badly. That’s when his friend got really angry and started shouting at Jose about not trying hard enough. He was really mad!
Coach Pernici immediately came to stop this ridiculous behavior, when the boy said loudly, “I just want to win. I don’t care who gets hurt, as long as I win!” Jose couldn’t believe what he had just heard. But Coach Pernici assured him that a lot of people have that same attitude. The coach went on to explain to the other boy that true winners don’t hurt others to win. And then he said, “Isn’t it interesting that such an important lesson can be taught right here with this 3-legged race? You see, in this race, you can’t be a winner unless you HELP the person next to you win as well! When you HELP him win, then you also win, just like in real life. So, I guess you could say that life is like a 3-legged race!” Jose smiled.
The other boy almost did, but he was beginning to understand. He started that day really thinking about what Coach Pernici had said, and figuring out ways to HELP others to be winners in everyday things—not just races on field day. He was becoming a HERO.
– Jim Lord