Two Choices

> > > > 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 d elivered 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. > > > > B y 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.