I didn't know my own strength. I wasn't a bully or anything, but

Mark Henry, known to the world as the “World’s Strongest Man,” once reflected upon his youth with these words: “I didn’t know my own strength. I wasn’t a bully or anything, but I’d be out playing and end up hurting someone. So I had to sit out or play with older kids.” In this confession lies a truth both humble and mighty: that raw strength, when untamed and unmeasured, can be as dangerous as it is wondrous. Power without awareness becomes a storm that may wound unintentionally, and so the one who possesses it must learn wisdom alongside might.

The meaning here is profound. Mark Henry was blessed from birth with a body of immense potential, a reservoir of force greater than those around him. Yet in childhood, he did not yet understand how to wield it. His words reveal the paradox of strength: it is not enough to possess it; one must also learn control, discipline, and responsibility. For the true measure of strength is not how much one can overpower others, but how wisely one chooses to use that power.

The origin of such wisdom lies deep in human history. Think of the tale of Hercules, son of Zeus, who as a child slew serpents sent to kill him. His great power was evident even in infancy, but it was also a burden, leading to tragedy when untempered by wisdom. Hercules, like Henry, was forced to confront the reality that immense strength must be guided by understanding, or else it risks harming others. Thus, the ancient myth and the modern strongman echo the same truth: power is never innocent unless it is governed by virtue.

Henry’s mention of sitting out or playing with older kids reveals a second layer of wisdom: that growth requires finding those who can match us, challenge us, and teach us. Left only among those weaker, his power would have caused harm and isolation. But among the older and stronger, he could be tested without destroying. So it is in life: those gifted with unusual talents must seek mentors, peers, and rivals who stretch them beyond themselves, lest their gifts turn into curses.

We see this also in the story of Alexander the Great, whose teacher was Aristotle. Though Alexander possessed an unmatched will and a warrior’s soul, it was only under the guidance of wisdom that his abilities were sharpened into leadership. Without such discipline, his conquests might have been nothing but chaos. Henry’s story teaches us that raw ability, whether physical, mental, or spiritual, must be harnessed by companionship and guidance that keeps it from causing harm.

The lesson then is clear: know your own strength. Do not wield it blindly, whether it be the strength of your body, the sharpness of your mind, or the fire of your passion. Learn its weight, learn its limits, and learn its effect upon others. Seek those who can challenge you rightly, so that your power may grow without destroying what lies around you. Remember that true greatness is not in the force you can unleash, but in the control you can maintain.

Therefore, children of the future, take to heart Mark Henry’s reflection. If you discover within yourself a gift, whether of strength, skill, or vision, do not let it run wild. Train it, discipline it, and temper it with humility. For uncontrolled power may harm the innocent, but mastered power can uplift the world. Let your strength be not a burden to others, but a blessing. And when you learn to rule over your own power, then, and only then, will you truly know its worth.