>>>
>>>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 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. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and
>>>asked if Shay could play.
>>>
>>>The boy looked around for guidance and, getting none, he took matters
>>>into his own hands 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."
>>>
>>>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
>>>outfield.
>>>
>>>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, 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 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 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 took the ball and turned and threw the ball on a
>>>high arc to right field, far beyond the reach of the first baseman.
>>>
>>>Everyone started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!"
>>>
>>>Never in his life had Shay ever made it to first base. He scampered
>>>down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
>>>
>>>Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!"
>>>
>>>By the time Shay rounded first base, the right fielder had the ball.
>>>
>>>He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but
>>>he understood the pitcher's intentions and intentionally threw the
>>>ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
>>>
>>>Shay ran toward second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously
>>>circled the bases toward home.
>>>
>>>Shay reached second base, the opposing shortstop ran to him, turned
>>>him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!"
>>>
>>>As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams 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."