Griff36 Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 I was sent this today, by a friend and I felt 'moved' by it.....It was also sent to me by someone I would never expect to send this kind of message out to people....I will send it out here with nothing cut from it about sending it out to others, like yourselves here.... Two Choices 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 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! 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 cyberspace, 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr W Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 Usual sentimental ******** chain letter that you get from America. Delete, do not pass go, do not collect £200. It's all made up **** so people will contniue to forward this rubbish around the world. Sorry if you think I'm being harsh but I detest chain emails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antuk99 Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 I was touched but hay i,m a sucker cant even watch casualty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auto culto Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 (edited) dito (the one above the one above) Edited January 24, 2008 by auto culto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 Usual sentimental ******** chain letter that you get from America. Delete, do not pass go, do not collect £200. It's all made up **** so people will contniue to forward this rubbish around the world. Sorry if you think I'm being harsh but I detest chain emails. Would have to agree, I'm not saying the sentiment is bad but can't see how reading yet another chain story from across the pond is going to alter the actions of the majority of people... you're either a good guy or a **** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 I got this one a while back and Snopes says it's ******** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGalway Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 I agree with Dr W as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerico Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 I'm in tears here...................... I can't believe I wasted two minutes of my life reading that ****! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codling99 Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 touching ,yes,but the biggest bag of **** ive seen in a while.chain mail **** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 Your all heartless numbnuts. It brought a tear to my eyes despite the fact that it was obviously a feel good makeup story. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr W Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Your all heartless numbnuts. It brought a tear to my eyes despite the fact that it was obviously a feel good makeup story. LB You big softy! If you liked that you'll love the one about the boy who was picked on and was going to top himself when this other lad steps in to help, hold on I'll see if I can find it........ Ahh here it is, I especially love the last paragraph about 'special friends' one for you Essex boys eh? Let's see if you send it back. We all know or knew someone like this!! One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I s aw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks." They really should get lives. “He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday! "He just laughed and handed me half the books. Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.. When we were seniors we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship. Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous! Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. “Thanks," he said. As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends... I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story." I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable." I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize its depth. Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others. You now have two choices, you can: 1) Pass this on to your friends or 2) Delete it and act like it didn't touch your heart. As you can see, I took choice number 1. "Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly." There is no beginning or end.. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. It's National Friendship Week. Show your friends how much you care. Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND. If it comes back to you, then you'll know you have a circle of friends. I take it all back I'm in floods of tears and feel really motivated by it all, boo hoo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millomite Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 I'd have taken the win! No prizes for second place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 I'd have taken the win! No prizes for second place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 LOL you *******. Let me know when the men get back and retake charge of their PC's and PW accounts from their wives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 We get loads of these from my wifes friend and they`re all just forwarded so I just harvest the e-mail addy`s and sell them on to spammers and phishers. ..........not really but they never learn do they Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verminer Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 pass the tissues, although im in tears i have never read such b#####ks in all my life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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