Succisa Virescit

Preamble to Post:

Quotes are a quick way to teach a complicated concept using very few words. I’ve been using them since my children were quite small. Quotes are usually remembered for a very long time. And for some reason, since the advice isn’t coming straight from mom or dad – but originated from a 3^rd party source – the words are far more impactful!

 

Over time, I will share more and more personal background with you. Here’s a data point. Both of my sons played college baseball. Yes, a lot of my life, as a mom, was spent sitting on metal bleachers.

I could write a very long book on the power and position that coaches have over young, impressionable players. But I won’t. Nope, I refuse to waste my words and your time on that subject.

On some teams, my boys were blessed to have good coaches who provided mentoring both on-and-off the field. These men were positive influences providing invaluable lessons. I, the mom, will forever be grateful to these men.

And then, there were coaches who…well, let’s just say… were less than high quality. That’s a generous way of describing them. Don’t you think?

You can probably relate to this situation. Whether it’s a basketball team, cheer squad or debate club, there are those coaches who can make your child’s life less than good. When your child suffers, the mom and dad suffer – DOUBLE. Right?

Many, many years ago when I was having difficulty enduring the rants and raves of a particular coach during practice, I literally felt nauseated watching him in action. The belittling rhetoric vented toward these very young baseball players was so inappropriate that I had a private conversation (without anyone’s knowledge) to halt his obnoxious behavior. Enough was more than enough.

Because I am so non-confrontation that I would rather fly to Mars on a one-way ticket than to confront anyone, I was literally sick-to-my-stomach before I made that call.

I hated that my son had to suffer on a team like this! With a coach like that!

 

Succisa Virescit. I found this Latin phrase placed on my kitchen desk.

What did it mean? Who left this piece of paper on this very messy desk?

My son did. He left this handwritten note just for me. Tables had turned. I am the one who leaves quotes for my kids.

To this day, this is one of my very favorite sayings.

I forgot to take Latin in college. I don’t know the correct pronunciation. But now I know the meaning.

When cut down, it grows back stronger.

Now you have it. Hold on to it. You may want to share it with your young son or daughter during a difficult time in their lives.

Very few people live a full life without being cut down in some form or fashion. It is up to us – the parents – to teach our children that they have the right and power to grow back stronger.

Do you remember a high-profile legal case involving young athletes from a private college on a lacrosse team – accused of a terrible crime? At the press conference upon their public exoneration, their team adopted this phrase as their motto. Succisa Virescit. Yes, indeed….they chose to grow back stronger.

As our children face life’s travails, we can warn them about taking the more predictable road of becoming Bitter… but we can encourage our kids to come back Better…and stronger.

 

 

Tomorrow ends our first week. Thank you for reading.

I plan to write short, inspirational pieces on Fridays. Just in case your eyes are tired from reading.

I promise, it will be Food for Thought. Not a Feast for thought.

Since it is glorious springtime, I will write about planting.