Two choices
What would you do?
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 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. 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!
My question is: Would you have made the same choice?
Join the most popular community of Irish swingers now
Login
Something to make you think
here's a true story, for what it's worth.
I went to Portland to visit a friend. While I was there we went to his local bar for a few beers and a game of pool. Between us we clattered all the locals...being used to an english pool table it wasn't hard - the pockets on american pool tables are like buckets....neither of us had missed a shot all afternoon. There was a guy there standing at the bar, watching but not playing - after all the other locals had got bored losing he came over and asked me to give him a game. It was obvious that he was "learning impaired" (i believe thats the phrase that's currently in vogue). We played 5 games....he won 3-2, but i made them all close games. It cost me nothing except a cpl of dollars for the table, but the smile on his face at the end was priceless. He wombled out after our games happy as larry, and after he had gone the waitress came over with a free pitcher of beer for us. Apparently none of the locals would play with him. As we were drinking our beer a girl who had been watching came over and started talking to us......I ended up in her bed that evening. Karma.
Great story Andy! Yes Learning impaired is the PC name alright. I work with special need children daily and to be honest its the best job in the world. The joy the children bring totally outweights the hard work involved in helping them achieve their goals. I just cant understand people who ostracise members of the community for any reason it really really hurts and annoys me. Totally believe in Karma though - what goes round comes round....
Same here Barb, I worked with learning impaired adults back in the early 80's.
Every day I came home totaly exhausted, but the absolute joy gained from sharing in there lives was worth every moment of hard work.
Very often exclusion is due to ignorance, so well done to Marie for opening a great thread:thumbup:
I worked at a special needs summer camp back in canada in the 70's and ended up being supervisor of their horseback riding program. I used my own horse in the program and the sheer joy on the childrens and adults faces as they rode was worth all the hard work I put in every day. My horse is long passed now but the memories I have of all the long hours she put in giving handicapped and burn unit children so much joy for just a short time in their lives will always have a special place in my heart. ......thanks for letting me share anny
I've worked with some lovely folks in the past - those who get labeled - and it irks me that just because we're not all the same that some people exclude others from doing anything they want to. If it's physically possible for them to enjoy an activity, I'll go out of my way to make it happen for them. Feck Sake! We'd be in a pretty bad state if we couldn't let a child play ballgames when they want to.
In life we are all blessed with attributes that others do not possess. My motto is "It's nice to give something back" and for my part I do.
I am not blowing my own trumpet here, but I will explain, for the last number of years, I have taught basic Literacy and Numeracy skills to Adults voluntarily, on a one to one basis.
I am fortunate that I am in a position to give that time, but that time is always based around my students not mine, it could be half an hour One week or maybe Two the next, what ever suits them.
I have witnessed some of my students, going from a severe lack of confidence about both themselves, to one where they actually wrote a poem or stood up infront of a crowded room and read chapter from a book, or more recently spoke about how they came to be where they are today.
To witness that and be apart of it,is an amazing experience, they feel so proud and I for one sure hell feel proud of them too.
Some of you may feel I am abit pedantict in the chat room about spellings ect. That's just me, I am joking.
But remember, there may some in the chat that are less fortunate than us!
If anyone that has read this, would like to chat or email me, please feel free to do so, in strict confidence of course.
I would like a this point to maybe post some website addresses. But I know the rules, Should I ask ADMIN if that would be ok?
Marie, what a fantastic thread, your a star.
Padds
xxxxx
I agree Marie, its the narrowminded people who have the worst "handicap"
Imagine going through life not being able to empathise, open your mind to other ways of thinking and be happy with the simple things.
Labels are just that, a quick way to box people off, and inability to explore the real beauty within people.
I came across Marie´s story quite awhile ago and I am not ashamed to admit it moved me to tears. It also reminded me how lucky I am to have children & an extended family without disabilities, "there but for the grace of god" ... and it this busy world it is a reminder that it is not all about making money, money does not buy happiness ... what goes around comes around ... If you could spend all day in a pub why not give back someof your time to society ... the pleasure you will recieve will definately reach the parts "carlsberg" cannot reach.........
