JOSHUA TIME 348

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 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 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!>>>> 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.>>>> If you're thinking about forwarding this message,chances are that>> you're probably sorting out the people on your address list that>> 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>> that opportunity to brighten the day of those with us the least>>able,>> 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,sunny today tomorrow