The theme for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge from Krista is Reward.…
Reward is filthy with possibility: it could be your third grader’s beaming smile after reading her first chapter book, a steaming mug of chicken soup after a long run in the cold, a photo of your brand-new baby — your reward for patience during nine months of construction, or your extended family gathered around the dinner table.
Jun, my oldest grandson, started taking Taekwondo – a martial art that originated in Korea over 2,000 years ago and an Olympics sport — when he was 5 years old.
In the span of time that he has taken Taekwondo classes, I probably have thousands of photos of him…and the one at right was taken for his first day of class, as a “white belt”.
Over the years, I’ve watched him learn and memorize his poomsaes (the forms learned for each belt level), learn advancing degrees of self-defense techniques, sparring, and grow from a shy to a more confident young man.
So the reward for his dedication and our family’s support of his martial arts lessons?
Last summer, shortly before his 10th birthday, he received his black belt.
Above and below, part of the invitation to the Black Belt Graduation Ceremony…
The black belt itself is a reward for sticking with martial arts training, and to understand that practice and dedication makes you better.
My hope is that my grandson will continue to learn that anything you put your effort and focus in, over time, will have its own rewards….beyond a belt color.
Can you tell how proud I am of this young person?
To see interpretation for this WordPress blogging community weekly photo challenge, click here.