Korupt Karl Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 TwoChoicesWhat would you do?....you make the choice.Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one.Read itanyway.My question is:Would you have made thesame choice?At a fundraising dinner for a school that serveschildren with learning disabilities, the father of one of the studentsdelivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended.After extolling the schooland its dedicated staff, he offered a question:'When notinterfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is donewith perfection.Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as otherchildren do. He cannot understand things as other children do.Where is the natural order of things in my son?'The audience was stilled by the query.The father continued. 'Ibelieve that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physicallydisabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true humannature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat thatchild.'Then he told the following story:Shay and I hadwalked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playingbaseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?'I knew that most of the boys would not want someone likeShay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my sonwere allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belongingand some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (notexpecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidanceand said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighthinning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him into bat in the ninth inning..'Shay struggled over to the team'sbench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched witha small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joyat my son being accepted.In the bottom of the eighth inning,Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the rightfield. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstaticjust to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as Iwaved to him from the stands.In the bottom of the ninth inning,Shay's team scored again.Now, with two outs and the basesloaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled tobe next at bat.At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and giveaway their chance to win the game?Surprisingly, Shay was giventhe bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible becauseShay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connectwith the ball.However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, thepitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside forthis moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball insoftly so Shay could at least make contact.The first pitch cameand Shay swung clumsily and missed.The pitcher again took a fewsteps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.As the pitchcame in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back tothe pitcher.The game would now be over. The pitcherpicked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to thefirst baseman.Shay would have been out and that would have beenthe end of the game.Instead, the pitcher threw the ball rightover the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay,run to first! Run to first!'Never in his life had Shayever run that far, but he made it to first base.He scampereddown the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.Everyone yelled, 'Runto second, run to second!'Catching his breath, Shay awkwardlyran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielderhad the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his firstchance to be the hero for his team.He could have thrown theball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher'sintentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far overthe third-baseman's head.Shay ran toward third base deliriouslyas the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him byturning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run tothird! Shay, run to third!'As Shay rounded third, theboys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming,'Shay, run home! Run home!'Shay ran to home, stepped onthe plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and wonthe game for his team.'That day', said the father softly withtears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bringa piece of true love and humanity into this world'.Shay didn'tmake it to another summer. He died that winter, having neverforgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home andseeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ya Big Tree Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I would obviously have to give Shay his day in the sun. Warms the heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judge'm All Duncan, SASS#67320 Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 AWESOME!!!!! NOTHING BETTER ON THE WIRE THAN THIS STORY!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas John Ringo, SASS #10138 Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 AWESOME!!!!! NOTHING BETTER ON THE WIRE THAN THIS STORY!!! +++110% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyatt Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Four-Eyed Buck,SASS #14795 Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Having worked with kids with disabilities, that one put a lump in my throat and kinda clouded up my vision. All they want is to be accepted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheyenne Culpepper 32827 Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 YUP!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Foot Johnson Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Seems I read this about fifteen or twenty years ago... Whatever the origins, an inspiring story nonetheless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pit Bull Tex Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 That is true love from all of the other kids.I read it a few year ago to my grandson and him and I both cried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubious Don #56333 Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 YUP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rance - SASS # 54090 Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Great story... Thanks... Rance Thinkin' both teams showed a lot of compasion.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Half-a-Hand Henri Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Thank You....Made My Day A Whole Lot Brighter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spades Hanlin SASS#66204 Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 We need more of this in our world, especially now. Hero's are always needed, everyone there that day was in their own little way a hero, especially Shay, and the boys he played with... Sometimes all people need is a jump start once in awhile to remember how to be human. Spades H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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