At our first track and field meeting this past Thursday, I encouraged our kids to come out to the winter practices that are optional to prepare for the upcoming season. This is the story that I read to them and afterwards, we discussed it's not about the the talent that you were given, but what you do with that talent and how much you can build on that talent.
"A man was going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money.
"After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'
"The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'
"The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'
"The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.
“Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this coward who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’
Don’t be scared to work hard or to succeed. If you do, you will be worthless like Servant #3 and be thrown out into utter darkness of society.
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