The
following story was sent to us from one of our subscribers:
It is a story of kindness and compassion a story
you might want to share with your children.
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 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. Shay's father approached one of the boys on
the field and asked if Shay could play.
The boy looked around for guidance and, getting none, he took matters
into his own hands 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 up to bat in the ninth inning."
 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 outfield. 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, would 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 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 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 took the ball and turned and threw the ball on a high
arc to right field, far beyond the reach of the first baseman.
Everyone started yelling, "Shay, run to first!
Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever made it to first
base. He scampered down the baseline, wide - eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" By the
time Shay rounded first base, the right fielder had the ball. He
could have thrown the ball to the second baseman for the tag, but
he understood the pitcher's intentions and intentionally threw the
ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward second base as the runners ahead
of him deliriously circled the bases toward home. Shay reached second
base, the opposing shortstop ran to him, turned him in the direction
of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!"
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams 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."
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