Hope you all don't mind I post this here... I saw the thread on
"Am I A Fireman Yet? " . I think this story also quite nice so I
decide to share it with you all 
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." color=black size=4>
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!" size=2>
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.
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it
treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
