A Walk with Christ: Day 4

Day 4                                                                                                                                

Shay Plays Baseball

  At a fund-raising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the school's student delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extollong the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a queston.

  "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," the father answered, "that when God brings a child like Shay into the world, an opportunity to realize the Divine Plan present 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 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 opviously 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 were loaded, the potential winning run was on base. Shay was schelduled to be the next at-bat. Would the team actually let Shay bat at the 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 it with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved a few steps closer to lob the ball in softly so Shay would 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 that ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have ended the game.

  Instead, the pitchertook the ball and threw it on a high arch to right field, far beyond reach of the first baseman. Everyone started yelling, "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 statled. 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.

  Instead 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 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 Shay's father softly, with tears now rollong down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of the Divine Plan into this world."

Yellow Paper:

Today I will sow greater love and kindness to my friend and family.

Wednesday: Day of Rest

On this day, all taht is recorded in that sscriptures is that Jesus spent the day outside the city of Jerusalem in seclusion. Jesus probably spends a day of reast with his friends at Bethany.

Read:  John 15:4-17

Thought: The Lord had friends who provided comfort for Him. He askd that we do the same for others. Do we reach out with the hands of friendship to those who need comfort, in need of "rest"?

 

Loves Ya All1

Have a good day.

Till tomorrow.  

Shaylee, Me, and I