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If you have a Soft heart, Then this is a must read... A 10 to me!!

By
Mortgage and Lending with Thomas R. Weiss

I received an e-mail yesterday, I know that It was uplifting and sad at the same time.. Now please don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read on..

 

At a fund-raising 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 that attended, and he continued to speak.

When not interfered by outside influences, everything nature does is 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 father asked the audience.

The father continued. " I believe, that when a child like shay, who is physically and mentally handicapped, comes into this world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child. Then he continued with 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 will 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 despite his handicap.

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 and put him into bat in the ninth inning.

Shay struggled over to the teams bench and put on the teams shirt with a broad smile, and his father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the fathers joy in 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 still obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and out 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 basis loaded, The potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled 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 nearly impossible, because Shay didn't even know how to hold a bat properly let alone try and make a hit.

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 more steps forward to be able to toss the ball softly to 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 and it would be the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, and out of reach of all the other teammate's. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, " Shay, run to first, run to first" Never in his life has Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. then everyone started yelling 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 pitchers intentions and he too threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head. Shay ran towards third base, everyone was yelling Shay! Shay! Shay! all the way Shay all the way home.

Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him the direction of home base, now Shay ran towards home base, all the way the way to the the home plate, he was then cheered on as the hero who had a grand slam and won the game for his team.

That day, said the father, softly with tears rolling down his face, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into Shays world.

Shay didn't make it to another season, he passed away that winter from his handicap, having never forgotten being the hero, and making his father so happy and coming home to his mother embracing her little hero of the day!

 

:Now a foot note to this story: We all send thousands of jokes without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life s choices people tend to think twice, but public discussion about human decency is too often suppressed in our schools and our workplaces, try passing along a little spark of love and humanity, to those less fortunate.... it will brighten your day... it did mine :0)

 

Good day to everyone,

Thomas R Weiss

tom@provagio.com

 

Comments (9)

Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life
I've saw this before and loved it!  I could read this over and over again.  Thanks Tom.
Jul 22, 2007 10:33 AM
Thomas Weiss
Thomas R. Weiss - West Palm Beach, FL

Jason,

I knew you would comment, I just know how you think sometimes, it's a great story...

Tom Weiss

Jul 22, 2007 10:35 AM
Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time
Beautiful story Thomas. Thanks for sharing it!!! 
Jul 22, 2007 10:43 AM
Scott Daniels Florida Real Estate 2.0. Agents Earn 100% Commission.
Florida List For Less Realty, Inc. Broker/Owner. - Cooper City, FL

Tom,

Unreal,the courage of the young! 

Jul 22, 2007 10:44 AM
MAUREEN STACCATO
Springfield, MA

Great story but could you please not post the entire blog in bold-

it is hard to read and hard on the eyes!

Thanks for sharing this heart of a story!

Jul 22, 2007 10:48 AM
Thomas Weiss
Thomas R. Weiss - West Palm Beach, FL

BB- Thanks fro checking it out..

Scott- It all starts with the young..

Maureen- Thanks for stopping by and reading my post, also I corrected that problem..

 

Tom Weiss

Jul 22, 2007 11:26 AM
Melissa Wagner
Leo Parker Real Estate & Auction - Woodbury, TN
Beautiful story... and nice to hear about positive things children do rather than the negative. There are a lot of kind hearted children and adults still out there. Thanks for the post!
Jul 22, 2007 11:39 AM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Tom,

Thanks for sharing your nice story with us.

Jul 22, 2007 12:06 PM
Melissa Nottingham
Coldwell Banker Advantage - Winfield, WV
WV Real Estate Agent
I spent several years working with the mentally and physically handicapped. It is amazing what YOU can learn from THEM if you are willing to try. This is a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.
Jul 22, 2007 12:21 PM