Journaling reads:
How do you teach determination, motivation, or team spirit...? How?... by teaching Patience. Kevin wanted so badly to play t-ball at age four with his future classmates at Cass Midway, home of the Vikings. But, the year he finally turned four and met the requirements of playing, the school district changed the age to five. They said, "It is better age... kids have a lot more focus at age five". Kevin was upset. To soften the blow, we enrolled him in soccer. But he wanted to skip his soccer practices to attend my nephew Zachary's t-ball games. The same games he would have been playing if the age requirement hadn't changed. With a hotdog in one hand and a ball cap in the other, he would cheer, "Go Zachary" and "Good Job, Zachary". Finally, in September 2004, Kevin turned five and was ready to play t-ball. He played with so much enthusiasm during practice. It was his social outing where he was able to intermingle with children he would attend school with in the fall. Waiting the one year made a difference in his determination, motivation, and team spirit because he learned Patience first.

So, what is the color of patience? To me... it is hazel, to look in the handsome eyes of my anxious child and tell him that he is still too young. And Brown, to rub his brown hair and tell him to cheer up, "You will play next year, I promise". And red, when the ketchup oozes out of his hot dog bun onto his shirt, while yelling, "Good Job, Zachary". And Purple, Grey, and White... the color of his first uniform when he finally got to play t-ball.