I’d always see the little boy next door burying grape seeds he ate in a vase filled with soil as I enjoy the coolness in the courtyard.
At first, I didn’t care much. But because it had been going on for quite some time I eventually approached him and asked him: ‘Why are you always burying the grape seeds in the vase?’
‘It is because I want to plant grapes.’ He answered without lifting his head up.
‘But grapes are planted with grapevines; you won’t be able to plant grapes this way.’
‘I know.’
I became even more curious and asked: ‘But why are you still doing it?’
‘Must grapes be grown with grapevines? I want to create miracle.’ The child then lifted his head up and looked at me with hope filled eyes.

After that encounter, I’d always see the boy watering his grape seeds with great care squatting down staring at his vase with hope filled eyes. Even when the other children asked him to join them in play doesn’t deter his attention towards the seeds. It is obvious that he was immersed in hope. A few days later, his parents noticed something uncanny about their son. That day, the soy sauce at their home also ran out. The boy was squatting outside when his father called him. After calling him continuously for a few times and receives no response, his father came out to have a look and found the boy squatting down very engrossed in the vase. The father said: ‘What are you doing squatting down here? I’ve called you so many times, where were you? Go and get me a soy sauce!’ The father handed him the money.

After some time, the boy’s father noticed that the boy still hasn’t come home with the soy sauce he wanted so he rushed out to have a look. When he steps outside, he saw his son still squatting in front of the vase with the money still in his hands.
The boy’s father angrily pulled the boy’s hands and shouted at him saying: ‘What is wrong with you? I’ve asked you to go and buy soy sauce but why are you still here?’
The little boy’s attention is still at the vase because his grape seeds haven’t sprouted yet after so long. The boy was disappointed and replied: ‘I was wondering how come these grape seeds haven’t sprout?’

The boy’s father got even angrier and snapped: ‘I’ve already told you before that it is useless in doing so but you are so stubborn.’ He slapped the boy in his face as he said that and grabbed the vase and threw it to the floor.

The little boy looks at the soil scattered out everywhere on floor and began to cry.

The little boy is still very young. After a few days of taciturn, he regained back his outgoing self and started playing with the children in the courtyard.
One week later, as I was also enjoying the cool, I saw a little girl in the courtyard planting her grape seeds in a vase. I had the urge to walk over and tell her that grapes can’t germinate from grape seeds but before I get to go over, the little boy noticed what she was doing and walked over to her and said: ‘Why are you planting grape seeds in the vase?’
‘It is because I want to grow grapes?’
‘To grow grapes you need grapevines. You cannot do it this way.’
‘I know.’
‘But why are you still doing it then?’
‘Must we use grapevines to plant grapes? I want to create miracles.’ Said the little girl with hope filled eyes.
The little boy then said: ‘It’s true. It’s useless of you doing this. I’ve tried it before, it’s useless.’
‘Do you know that you must water it every day after you plant it?’ The little boy nodded and tried to say something but hesitated awhile then turned around and headed back home.

A few days later, tender grapevines sprouted in the little girl’s vase. She was very overjoyed. I watch her calling all the other children in the courtyard to see her plant; she also asked the little boy to go over but he didn’t join in, instead he hid in a corner as the other children are encircling the vase.
I walked over to the boy who was still crying and asked him: ‘Why are you crying?’
The little boy said: ‘The grapevine is planted by the little girl’s father. I saw him doing that.’
The little boy continued: ‘Her dad is so nice.’

The boy whimpered dejectedly.

This story comes from Liu Liu’s book titled ‘meng ya’ (eng: sprout). It has such a hope filled title! I personally think everyone would admire that little girl for having such an understanding father who respects children’s feelings and who at the same time is discreetly supporting her! Isn’t it our responsibility as Junior Division’s PIC to become someone who protects the children with the spirit to courageously create miracles and enable them to carry hopes for the future?

Educating the Junior Division requires seven times the praises and three times the approach towards guidance. All the appreciation and encouragement given to the children will be the memorable and most unforgettable impression which could influence them throughout their lives. If we do not take the stance and think in children’s point of view, we are unconsciously disregarding them and at the same time shatter their hopes. Slowly the child will lose the passion, optimism and enthusiasm and eventually become reluctant to even give a try at things. Actually, in children’s heart disappointment is what they fear the most. In the cradle of life, regardless of what sort of situations children face, whether good or bad leaves all experiences will leave behind lasting imprints in their pure innocent lives. If we encourage them and is always there by their side whenever they fall, they will eventually grow up to become strong individuals whom regardless of what obstacles they may face in the future, they will never give up easily. This is an example of seeking and seeing hope in times of despair!

We can create beautiful and fond memories for the children! Mr. Ikeda learnt some magic tricks and sometimes even plays the piano for his children and other people’s children. He did it all out of the desire of wanting to leave fond memories for the children. It is because beautiful memories of one’s childhood can in turn become the power of encouragement for ones whole life. Junior Division activities are the ones which will give children the best opportunity to leave lasting imprints for the long years of their lives to come.

As a Junior Division PIC, how many Junior Divisions name can you learn by heart? And how many of the Junior Division whom you personally know like the back of your hand? Perhaps they may be facing problems at home which goes unnoticed or that they are victims of bully, a matter which has always been ignored. Where were you during those times? When are they truly happy? What have we done for them? If we are negligent, stubborn and impulsive we are actually hurting the child’s dignity. I hope that everyone will make great efforts to empathize and guide them with wisdom.

When we understand and treat children as a unique individuals who possesses the composition of lofty aspirations, ambitions, wisdom and character; it is only through such understanding that we will be able to truly love and respect the children. Children are all very young and at times that they may come up with some practical jokes or pranks but we shouldn’t strongly react or blame them. On the other hand, if we scold them, we must let them understand what is right and wrong as well as righteousness. This is a very valuable life experience. With such valuable life philosophy, children will inevitably learn as they are growing up. All children carry a mission only which they themselves can fulfill and every child are endowed with budding capabilities. The best fertilizer to enable these buds to grow is to believe in them. Some may grow very fast while some may have to go through quite some time and then rapidly grow. Hence, we must strongly believe in their budding capabilities that one day they will grow and patiently and warmly encourage them.

Promoting education requires everyone’s collaboration and support. Children possess infinite potential brimming in their lives. The sight of the liveliness of children can instinctively uplift adult’s spirit. Within their merry and joyful voices carries the message of peace and hope as well as the feeling of the joy of living.

Labels: e. Words of mentor