A Little Humanity makes lot of difference

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!