A moving story

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled > >children, 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, > >physically and mentally handicapped 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 his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew > >were playing baseball. Shay asked,Do you think they'll let me play?" > >Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like > >Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his 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.> >> >Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay> > >could play, not expecting much. 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 put on a team shirt with a > >broad smile and his Father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in> his heart.> >The boys saw the father's joy at his 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 his father 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 'cause 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 the > >other team 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 be able> > >to 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, but 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 head of the first > >baseman, 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 ran that far but 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 second base. By the time Shay rounded towards > >second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their > >team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. > >He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he> > >understood the pitcher's intentions and 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, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and > >turned 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> > >those watching were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, 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 and died that winter, having > >never forgotten being the hero and making his Father so happy and > >coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of> the day!> >> >AND, NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE 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 think twice about sharing. > >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 on your address list that 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 that opportunity to > >brighten the day of those with us the least able, 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.> >> > >May your day, be a Shay Day, sunny today tomorrow & always!> > > > > >Someone e-mailed this to me and I thought it a cool story,, I hope you like it.