Shay

[Leon]

As a tear came from my eye, I thought this would be a good one to share. It's baseball related to boot- (thanks to our board member Denny Walsh for sending it)-



Two Choices

What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?



At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its

Dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children 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. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:



Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.



I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning..'



Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt.. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at 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 right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.



At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.



However, as Shay stepped up to the

Plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.



The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.



Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over 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 Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.



Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as 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 by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!

Shay, run to third!'



As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team



'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.



Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!



AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:

We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate.

The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.



If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference.

We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'

So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:

Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?



A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.



You now have two choices:

1. Delete

2. Forward

May your day, be a Shay Day.
MAY GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO
DECIDES TO PASS THIS ON IN
MEMORY OF SHAY..............

--
Life's Grand,
Denny Walsh

[christopher.herman]

Thank you. I needed that today.

[36GoudeyMan]

+1

[atx840]

Who's cutting onions around here?

[ScottR81]

I have two younger brothers who are autistic and feel this story first hand..great add.

[Exhibitman]

"every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them."

So true, and sadly, one basis where our intentions usually outstrip our actions.

[BBSD]

Thank you for sharing.

[sportscardpete]

Originally Posted by atx840

Who's cutting onions around here?

+1

A real nice story Leon. It's good to hear we have some fantastic people in this world.

[slidekellyslide]

There was an autistic boy on my son's third grade baseball team...every single one of those boys went out of their way to make him feel just as part of the team as anyone else. I had to stand behind him when our team was in the field to make sure he kept his eye on the ball so he didn't get hurt. He gave a running play by play of the game as if he were on the radio or TV...most of the other teams we played that season gave him some leeway. He could make contact with the ball, but not out of the infield..some teams would let him stay on first even if he was out..it was difficult for him to understand he had to go back to the bench if he was out.

This story really brought that season back to me Leon..thanks for posting it.

[4815162342]

That was a very touching story Leon; thanks for sharing.

Matthew 25:40
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

[tjb1952tjb]

Very poignant, Leon. Thanks for sharing.

[joeadcock]

Daryl

Thanks for the verse. Applies to the great story.

[WhenItWasAHobby]

Thanks so much Leon for sharing a truly inspiring story. A lot of well said follow-up comments also.

[Wite3]

Great story and I have seen it before...for the last 13 years I have taught the inclusion class for my grade level at school and have seen many children like Shay come and go and I have to say, given the chance, most children are very accepting and understanding.

Joshua

[ethicsprof]

a beautiful story---most moving.
once again, the best of this board shines through, with depth and compassion.
many thanks, Leon, denny, et al
best,
barry

[irishdenny]

Little People Rock!

I have 2 younger boys, a 7 & a 9 year old. The younger one is Extremely Asthmatic. His older brother has the qualities of a saint. He's very mindful of his little brothers condition. The Things the wee ones can teach uS...

Thank You Daryl for a "meek but not weak" verse, Very Encouraging!

Leon, Thank You for passing it on here...

"Ours tears come from the Same Place"

[skooter]

Thank you for posting this Leon. It made my day a lot brighter, knowing there are many good people in this world we never hear about. The responses also tell a lot about the quality of people we have on this board.

[Buythatcard]

These are the kind of stories that we should hear every day. These kids are true heroes that our kids should look up to.

[Tabe]

Would it change your perception of the story if you knew the original version featured a boy named "Shaya" and that he went to a Jewish school? Somewhere along the line in the retelling, someone changed the name. Interesting. It's a great story, whether it's true or not.

http://www.snopes.com/glurge/chush.asp

Tabe

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Would it change your perception of the story if you knew the original version featured a boy named "Shaya" and that he went to a Jewish school? Somewhere along the line in the retelling, someone changed the name. Interesting. It's a great story, whether it's true or not.

http://www.snopes.com/glurge/chush.asp

Tabe

Why would it change a perception regardless of what religion someone is? And you know what, even if the story is pure fiction, but passing it around makes those who read it be a bit nicer to those less fortunate, is that such a bad thing? We need to pass around more stories like this instead of finding fault with them. And yes, with all of our members there is a great chance someone will say something contrarily, which is a sad state of affairs in the world we live in, imo. I think if each of us tries to make this place (earth) a bit better, instead of worse, we would all be better off. Just my half cent, and like I say, no doubt someone will disagree. It's ok.....everyone has a right to their opinion. best regards

to clarify, my comments were about the story and not pertaining to Tabe saying anything.....

[jcarroll84]

Thanks for sharing Leon, I will gladly pass this on and I hope it has the same effect on others as it has had on me. I had a rotten day at work but reading this put things back in perspective for me.
Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

John

[dherm360]

I also passed it on, incredible story
thanks Leon

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Leon

Why would it change a perception regardless of what religion someone is?

My point was more that it mattered to someone at one time and the name got changed. That's what I found interesting. To me, the religion doesn't matter one iota.

Originally Posted by Leon

And you know what, even if the story is pure fiction, but passing it around makes those who read it be a bit nicer to those less fortunate, is that such a bad thing?

Nope. That's why I made sure to mention that I think it's a good story.

I know you weren't necessarily taking me to task, I just wanted to clarify my points so as to not be Mr. Raincloud

Tabe

[uffda51]

A great story, one I've seen before, but it just gets better.

[canjond]

A great story... Almost makes you wish this was a sticky so every time we have have a 200 post "ridiculous disagreement" on the board, something like this post stays above it to remind us all what really matters.