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What would you do?

What would you do? Check out this true, touching story and would you made the same choice like the other boys?


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 (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 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 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 baseman’s head, 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 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 pitcher’s intentions so 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 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!


We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to make a difference. 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? A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats its least fortunate.

Story submitted by Tina

{ 33 comments… add one }
  • Avinash September 25, 2014, 4:52 am

    Vry inspiring story for my life and god shall bless those boys..!

  • JC January 25, 2013, 1:10 pm

    The boys in both teams are truly remarkable. A firm testament of good upbringing. Their actions are incredibly wise and godly and the events of that day impact everyone present as well as all who read this narrative.

  • Blanche November 3, 2012, 10:55 pm

    Really inspirational.. one of the best stories I have read..commenting all the way fron FIJI..like it.

  • Gift October 23, 2012, 3:18 pm

    My younger bro is mentally challenged as well bt we call him a special boy. Haven read this story, I love him more.

  • Athena October 19, 2012, 7:54 am

    Wow! Heartwarming story!

  • Lyncel October 16, 2012, 4:50 am

    Tears. Thanks for sharing this story.

  • Kathleen October 14, 2012, 1:14 am

    Gosh. This made me die a little. I wish the story was true, and if it was, I really salute those boys who poured love that day.

  • Irish Estuche October 13, 2012, 4:29 am

    Oh my, a tear fell from my eye upon reading this. This story will make a difference indeed!

  • Jham October 6, 2012, 4:57 am

    How great is our Almighty God. Everything and everyone in this earth has its purpose.

    Thank you God.

  • Arddy October 2, 2012, 9:08 pm

    A very touching story and inspiring at the same time wow!! It’s amazing how love can do, may little Shay rest in peace.

  • Dina September 26, 2012, 8:14 pm

    I was teary-eyed after reading this story. It is very touching and moves someone’s soul!

  • Abhideep September 19, 2012, 4:13 am

    Great story. This story tells us that how love can make hero to person.

  • Mosopefoluwaatoloye September 13, 2012, 6:40 am

    No one is indispensable. We all have equal rights. Love all. Despise none.

  • Surya Jyothi September 11, 2012, 12:27 am

    That was really an awesome story which let my eyes wet. Thank u so much Stephen. God bless those kind hearted children.

  • Icon September 10, 2012, 3:26 am

    Thanks for that…. I really like it..

  • Yared September 7, 2012, 12:13 pm

    I liked it, a very heart touching story.

  • Marsy September 7, 2012, 4:13 am

    I love it.. Thankx !! nice one

  • Henry September 6, 2012, 2:40 am

    One of the most exciting and emotional stories that I had ever come across or read it….It’s a mind blogging, a story that really touched my deepest heart………Help us God….Shay is a boy I would love to give a big Huggins if it is possible……

  • Shanna Kaye September 5, 2012, 11:10 am

    This story had me anxious to know the end and I admonish that father for not discouraging his son on his desire to play the game and it is men like these that our community is desperately lacking.

  • Preet September 5, 2012, 10:16 am

    It is a nice story, heart touching……..

  • Jane Busuttil September 5, 2012, 9:48 am

    God bless those boys for their kindness, and for giving Shay a wonderful day. Never does a man stand so tall, then when he stops to help a child.

  • Carol September 5, 2012, 2:05 am

    Wow!!! I am so speechless, and I realise that we have to make everyday count in our lives and others, *tearyeyes*

  • Chandrika September 4, 2012, 10:42 pm

    It’s a beautiful and heart touching… Thank you so much for sharing.

  • Noeme D. Catayas September 4, 2012, 9:57 pm

    It’s a very touching story – giving me enough reason not to let pass the opportunities to share some sparks of love and humanity no matter how little. So help me God to be sensitive enough!

  • EJ September 4, 2012, 8:27 pm

    That was a sad yet inspiring story….

  • Steel Arm September 4, 2012, 11:58 am

    Great story

    Been around for a while – but that story really moved me

    Thx

  • Navin Ahuja September 4, 2012, 3:34 am

    Really heart touching fact of life… keep it up!!

  • Olive September 4, 2012, 2:05 am

    Very inspiring.

  • Chandra September 4, 2012, 1:52 am

    One right decision at the right time at the right place is the only thing needed to change the world……heart touching story..

  • Random September 4, 2012, 1:02 am

    That was such a good story!!!!!!!
    It was very touching……

  • Agnes Guitguiten September 3, 2012, 7:10 pm

    A very heart warming story that can move our souls to realize that a gesture of acceptance over the disability of others can make that person very happy….

  • Neha September 3, 2012, 1:26 pm

    God made angel and sent to earth. Everyone is different in this world. God didn’t make everyone the same. We should learn from all different types of people.

  • Lilin September 3, 2012, 10:47 am

    Thank Stephen. Although I don’t know how to play baseball but I understand the moral of this stories – is very touching. There is love.

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