Choose the Path of Love

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.

"I believe that when a physically and mentally handicapped child comes into the world, an opportunity to realise true human nature presents itself; it comes in the way other people treat that child."

Then he told this story to illustrate his point:

"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 handicap.

Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're going by size runs and the game is in the eighth innings. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth innings.'

Shay struggled over to the bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. His father watched with 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 innings, Shay's team scored a few runs but were still behind by three. In the ninth innings, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no plays came his way, he was obviously excited just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. Shay was scheduled to be next to bat. At this juncture they faced a choice: do they let Shay bat and give up 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. The first pitch came and Shay swung at the ball clumsily and missed. The pitcher took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly to Shay.

As the pitch came in Shay swung at the ball and hit it right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked could easily have thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game; instead he 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 the first, run to the first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to the first base. By the time Shay rounded towards the second base the right fielder had the ball.

He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman but he understood the pitcher's intentions, so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head. As Shay rounded the third base, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home, run home!' Shay ran to home, 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 rolling down his cheeks, ' the boys from both teams helped bring true love and humanity into the world.'

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, then coming home and seeing his mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!