Re: OT - Two Choices
- From: "Kathycarp" <kathycarp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 07:53:10 -0700
Ahhh... That's a beautiful story. Years ago I saw some actress (or other
"famous" person. Unfortunately, I can't remember her name) on a talk show.
She was raising a mentally handicapped child and they were talking about how
difficult that is. The actress said something like this. "I have been
blessed beyond all of my expectations. Every day I receive *perfect* love
from another human being." ...or something like that. Anyway, what she said
really touched me.
Another story... Recently my sister went to her high school reunion. One of
her classmates had been Josh's (my son) first grade teacher. She asked about
Josh. She said that he had been her "favorite" because of something he did
in first grade. Josh was athletically gifted and always was "the best" in
any sport. On their track and field day at the end of the school year he was
in a race and was winning. He slowed up at the end and let another kid win
the race. His teacher has never forgotten that, even 26 years later.
Kathy
www.ambergriscaye.com/villadelsol
"Judity" <Judity01@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1152713525.686935.3900@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A friend sent me this in an email this morning, and I wanted to share
it with all of you.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
What would you do? You make the choice! Don't look for a punch line;
There isn't one! Read it anyway. My question to all of you is: Would
you have made the same choice?
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 second 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.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Judity
EAT HERE AND GET GAS
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1129739
http://judity.Writing.Com/
.
- Follow-Ups:
- Re: OT - Two Choices
- From: RaeMorrill
- Re: OT - Two Choices
- References:
- OT - Two Choices
- From: Judity
- OT - Two Choices
- Prev by Date: Re: Worker's or Workers Comp?
- Next by Date: Re: AAAARRRGGGHHH
- Previous by thread: Re: OT - Two Choices
- Next by thread: Re: OT - Two Choices
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
