Too Wonderful

[Deleted User]

My son got this short story forwarded in his e-mail and he e-mailed it downstairs to my computer. He thought it would be a good idea to post to the fishing BB's. I agree with that. There has been a lot on these forums of disrespect of other's plights, and this is an inspiration in another direction:

> > > TOO WONDERFUL
> > > At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled
> > >children,
> > > the father of one of the school's students delivered a speech that
> > would
> > > never be forgotten by those who attended.
> > >
> > > After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a
> > question.
> > >
> > > "Everything God does is done with perfection. Yet, my son, Shay,
> > cannot
> > > learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as
the
> > > children do. Where is God's plan reflected in my son?"
> > >
> > > The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. "I
> > believe,
> > > that when God brings a child like Shay into the world, an
opportunity
> > to
> > > realize the Divine Plan presents itself. And it comes in the way
> > people
> > > treat that child." Then, he told the following story:
> > >
> > > Shay and I walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing
> > > baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they will let me play?" Shay's
> > >father
> > > knew that most boys would not want him on their team. But the
father
> > > understood that if his son were allowed to play it would give him a
> > > much-needed sense of belonging. Shay's father approached one of the
> > boys
> > >on
> > > the field and asked if Shay could play. The boy looked around for
> > > guidance from his teammates. Getting none, he took matters into his
> > own
> > > hands and said, "We are 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 up to bat in
> > the
> > >ninth
> > > inning.
> > >
> > > In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs
but
> > was
> > > still behind by three. At the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on
a
> > >glove
> > > and played in the outfield. Although no hits came his way, he was
> > >obviously
> > > ecstatic just to be 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.
> > Shay
> > >was
> > > scheduled to be the next at-bat. Would the team actually let Shay
bat
> > at
> > > this juncture 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 moved 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 toward Shay. As
the
> > >pitch
> > > came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball to the
> > pitcher.
> > >
> > > The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have thrown
> > the
> > >ball
> > > to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have
> > ended
> > > the game. Instead, the pitcher took the ball and threw it on a high
> > arc
> > >to
> > >right
> > > field, far beyond reach of the first baseman. Everyone started
> > yelling,
> > > "Shay, Shay, run to first. Run to first." Never in his life had
Shay
> > >ever
> > > made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed
and
> > > startled.
> > >
> > > Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second! By the time Shay
was
> > > rounding first base, the right fielder had the ball. He could have
> > thrown
> > > the ball to the second baseman for a tag. But the right fielder
> > >understood
> > > what the pitcher's intentions had been, so he threw the ball high
and
> > far
> > > over the third baseman's head. Shay ran towards second base as the
> > >runners
> > > ahead of him deliriously circled the bases towards home. As Shay
> > >reached
> > > second base, the opposing shortstop ran to him, turned him in the
> > >direction
> > > of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!" As Shay rounded third,
> > the
> > >boys
> > > from both teams were screaming, "Shay! Run home!" Shay ran home,
> > stepped
> > >on
> > > home plate and was cheered as the hero, for hitting a "grand slam"
and
> > > winning the game for the team.
> > >
> > > "That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his
> > face,
> > > "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of the Divine Plan
> > into
> > >this
> > > world."
> > >
> > > In conclusion: a footnote to the story. We all send thousands of
> > jokes
> > > through e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to
sending
> > > messages regarding life choices, people think twice about sharing.
> > The
> > > crude, vulgar, and sometimes the obscene pass freely through
> > cyberspace,
> > >but
> > > public discussion of decency is too often suppressed in school and
the
> > > workplace. If you are thinking about forwarding this message, you
are
> > > probably thinking about which people on your address list aren't the
> > > "appropriate" ones to receive this type of message. The person who
> > sent
> > >this
> > > to you believes that we can all make a difference. We all have
> > thousands
> > >of
> > > opportunities a day to help realize God's plan. So many seemingly
> > trivial
> > > interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass
> > along
> > >a
> > > spark of the Divine? Or do we pass up that opportunity, and leave
the
> > >world
> > > a bit colder in the process?
> > >
> > > You have choices now.

[Hookset]

I like this! Inner reflection is good.

Thanks RT,

hook

[HarpMan]

Great Story, thanks for sharing it with us.. images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/smile.gif

[BUGLEMAN]

sniff. sniff.

[First Bite]

Good one Steve. Puts life in perspective.
Mark


www.firstcastjigs.com (http://www.firstcastjigs.com)

[Rauly]

IT DEPENDS
A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.00
A basketball in Michael Jordans hands is worth about $33 Million
It depends on whose hands it's in

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.00
A baseball in Sammy Sosa's hands is worth about $19 Million
A tennis racket is useless in my hands
A tennis racket in Venus William's hands is a Wimbledon Championship
It depends on whose hands it's in

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal
A rod in Mose's hands will part the mighty sea
It depends on whose hands it's in

Two fish and five loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwitches
Two fish and five loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands
It depends on whose hands it's in

Nails in my hands might produce a bird house
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world

As you see now, it depends on whose hands it's in
So put your concern's, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families, and your relationships in God's hands because
It depends on whose hands it's in.

[RW]

Rauly, You are so right, I have a healthy grand daughter that has to have been in god's hands to have survived. Thanks for the post RT and Rauly, sniff, sniff. RW

[Jennie@ifish]

Do you think the fish will play along with me, as I attempt to fly fish today?
That would be awfully nice!
That was a very nice story, Steve... Thanks!
Jen

[David Johnson]

So right Rauly, it all depends on Whose hands we put every thing into.

[HOGTIDE]

MY Gosh...I like all of you people. Nice thoughts.

Why don't you come on over. I'm just about to make French Toast and sausage for the family. It would be nice to have you around...share some coffee and talk.