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by Rugers Guru on 20 January 2009 - 22:01
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 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 question. 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
'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 question. 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
by Rugers Guru on 20 January 2009 - 22:01
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.
By 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:
When it comes to posting 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.
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.
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.
By 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:
When it comes to posting 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.
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.
by dogshome9 on 20 January 2009 - 22:01
I believe that the pitcher wouldn't throw the ball, because he would make a mess of the pick up on purpose.
I also wish that ALL KIDS were that kind and understanding of people who are different.
by venzosmom on 20 January 2009 - 23:01
Ok,, well that made cry....
What a great story..Thank you for sharing it.
What a great story..Thank you for sharing it.
by Two Moons on 21 January 2009 - 01:01
A rare moment indeed.
If only it could be common place instead of a moment.
I have a son with a disability. I know how cruel the real world is.
Nice to hear a story about the other side of life.
Thanks.
by justcurious on 21 January 2009 - 01:01
this story has been floating around for sometime. now that i've seen it a number of time i wondered if it was true, so i went to snopes. if anyones interested in what they have to say about it here's the link:
http://www.snopes.com/glurge/chush.asp
http://www.snopes.com/glurge/chush.asp
by angusmom on 21 January 2009 - 01:01
whether the story is true or not isn't the point. i vote for the spark of decency and compassion. it rarely ever hurts and the rewards can be great, just maybe not tangible. the story made me cry too. it's sad that so many people are afraid of the disabled that they react with cruelty rather than understanding. it's not that hard to be nice.
by Evadic22 on 21 January 2009 - 01:01
I really enjoyed that....
Thank you so much for sharing this very inspiring story. Tales of human compassion and empathy are very rare nowadays....
by justcurious on 21 January 2009 - 02:01
the rabbi, who originally wrote it in 1999 (i think:), said it was true and i take him at his word; and i also believe the kids were sincere in their acceptance as far as it went. there is no doubt it's a very nice story but it is also patronizing and ultimately pitying, which is not true compassion. my dh is deaf and when you look at it from the "disabled" point of view it changes how you see it. so from this pov i have to agree a bit with the snope interpretation. http://www.snopes.com/glurge/chush.asp
i have seen it happen time and again - humoring the "disabled" person in the moment because it makes us feel good about ourselves - but there is rarely any thought of giving true friendship to someone who is disabled. i just wish the story told of a sustained relationship and not a one shot deal. in the end i think it makes the "able bodied"/"normal" people feel far better about themselves and does little or nothing for the "disabled" especially in the long run.
i am sorry to "rain on" the warm and fuzzy 'fest' - i really debated posting to this thread - but after years of living with a profoundly deaf man and watching him settle for the "crumbs" people offer while thinking they are being considerate i just had to speak up. the "disabled" may have their differences but the bottom line is they are normal people with normal desires just like everyone else.
the problem i have with this story is that it 'teaches" us "abled bodied" that we can appease ourselves by thinking that the generosity and kindness shown in this one game is enough to make this boy truly happy. but if we really thought about it we would realize this very limited interaction couldn't possibly sustain an "normal able bodied" boy - so why is it enough for a "disabled" boy? we are all social beings and we want true companionship and understanding and this story tells of neither - jmo
i have seen it happen time and again - humoring the "disabled" person in the moment because it makes us feel good about ourselves - but there is rarely any thought of giving true friendship to someone who is disabled. i just wish the story told of a sustained relationship and not a one shot deal. in the end i think it makes the "able bodied"/"normal" people feel far better about themselves and does little or nothing for the "disabled" especially in the long run.
i am sorry to "rain on" the warm and fuzzy 'fest' - i really debated posting to this thread - but after years of living with a profoundly deaf man and watching him settle for the "crumbs" people offer while thinking they are being considerate i just had to speak up. the "disabled" may have their differences but the bottom line is they are normal people with normal desires just like everyone else.
the problem i have with this story is that it 'teaches" us "abled bodied" that we can appease ourselves by thinking that the generosity and kindness shown in this one game is enough to make this boy truly happy. but if we really thought about it we would realize this very limited interaction couldn't possibly sustain an "normal able bodied" boy - so why is it enough for a "disabled" boy? we are all social beings and we want true companionship and understanding and this story tells of neither - jmo
by angusmom on 21 January 2009 - 04:01
maybe it goes a bit overboard, but maybe it could show someone that it is a good thing to be kind. not everyone is disabled to the same degree. i did some work with reading impaired kids a few years ago and they were all different. one has to adapt to the different disabilites and the kids personalities. it isn't easy. but, i have friends who wouldn't do this work because it scared them somehow. i can't say %100 that i was never patronizing, but i can say that when i was, i got called on it by the kid! that is the best teaching experience! disabled does not equal stupid. or ignorant. but, i can still say that an act of inclusion can be of great benefit for ALL involved. it can open a door for any one to come in or go out. there will always be those who basically pat on the head those who are disabled in ANY way and there are those who can learn from an experience (whether disabled or not). i really think we all should try to look for the good intent of others instead of a possible insult. jmho.
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