My 7-year-old son plays in a youth soccer league. I love to watch him play. I love to cheer from the sidelines. Sometimes I think the games are for the parents, not the kids.
When it comes to sportsmanship, kids set the best example. A couple of weeks ago, one of the boys on William's team was feeling winded and queasy. As the boys ran laps around the field, the coach yelled, "Last one to finish needs to run an extra lap."
The ill boy lagged behind the rest, frustrated and on the brink of tears. Another boy noticed, deliberately slowed down and took over last place. That boy ended up running the extra lap instead.
I saw the whole scene unfold, and it about put a tear in my eye. Only a child could be so unselfish. Only a child could be so sincere and pure at heart.
I've grown more cynical in my adult years. The world will never be as nice and forgiving as I once hoped it could be. That's why I'm grateful for the lessons children teach. Children really are the last bastion of innocence and sincerity.
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