4-15-07

For Aric

I just found this on a blog of a woman from Australia. She challenged people to pass it on.

My youngest, Aric (pictured) is autistic. I couldn't help but put his face into this story as I read it. It is Deeply Touching.

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,

physically and mentally handicapped 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

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."



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!"

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!