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Close Topic OptionsA Reminder Of Proper Ettiquet
A Reminder Proper Ettiquet - Psychology, Special Needs, Health - Posted: 24th Aug, 2007 - 5:57pm
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A Reminder Of Proper Ettiquet
Please read I will place my thoughts after the story which was e-mailed to me author unknown.
I hope this is ok JB
| QUOTE |
What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, > > >there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made > >the same choice? > > > >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 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 (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 br oad 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 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 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 base man's > >head, out of reach of all t eam 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 pitchers > >intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over > >the third-base man'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 his father so happy, and > >coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of >the day! > > > >AND NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY: We all send thousands of jokes > > >through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to > >sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, > >vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyber space, but public > >discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and >workplaces. > > > >If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that > >you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't > >the "appropriate" ones to receive this type of message. Well, the > >person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We > > >all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize > >the "natural order of things." So many seemingly trivial interactions > >between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little > >spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and > >leave the world a little bit colder in the process? > > > >A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's > >least fortunate amongst them. > > > >You now have two choices: > >1. Delete > >2. Forward > > > >May your day, be a Shay Day |
My self as a child in a small village this would have occurred, but that was our way we all cherished just even having a new face on the field and seldom we kept score. I was taught and expected by the village adults and my parents to give all an equally chance and to try and help those who needed it. Whats the word ... yes to be a good Christian.
I ponder my neighborhood play ground and how even though my children are normal that many times as the new kids on the block they had been shunned, especially my oldest. Now it is OK as we have been there for two years, but what happened to the days when the new kid or one who was different was openly welcomed and children went out of their way to make the other feel liked and wanted.
I fear this child in my area likely would have never been given even the chance to play. What about your place?
Is this the lack of good morals being taught from parents and the village not being part of the parental support group? I think it is what about you.
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Ettiquet Proper Reminder A
Krakyn, I think that this is the most beautiful story I have ever heard, in a long time. It is amazing that in spite of the team losing, they found it in their hearts to allow a mentally challenged boy to play with them. The best part of the story was, the pitcher throwing the ball in such a way making it easy for Shay to hit it. My heart swelled when everyone gave him a chance to make a home run. This must have been the most exciting moment in Shay's life! It is good that parents are raising their kids with love, kindness and respect towards others. All these kids had the opportunity to make fun of this poor boy and they didn't. The love and encouragement that their own parents shared with these kids, they chose to pass it onto someone who is a little slower than them. A very heart warming story Krakyn, thanks for sharing!
TOPIC: A Reminder Of Proper Ettiquet