We are God’s children. (1John 3:2)
Being a child of God is not just a matter of doctrine or intellectual faith but a RELATIONSHIP – a relationship founded on love. See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.
What does this reality look like today?
Listen to a “old” true story …. At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After praising the school & 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 grew silent. He continued, 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally & physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, & it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story:
Shay & I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging & some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. I approached one of the boys on the field & asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance & said, 'We're losing by 6 runs & the game is in the 8th inning. I guess he can be on our team & we'll try to put him in to bat in the 9th inning.' Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a tear in my eye & warmth in my heart.
The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the 9th, Shay put on a glove & played in right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game & on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the 9th, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs & the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base & Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat & give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. We knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even 2 know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, realizing 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 & Shay swung clumsily … missed.
The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came, Shay swung & hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder & could have easily thrown the ball to the 1st baseman. Shay would have been out & 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. Everyone from the stands & 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 wide-eyed & startled. Then….Everyone yelled, 'Run to 2nd, run to 2nd!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran struggling to the base. By the time Shay rounded 2nd 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 for the tag. He intentionally threw the ball high & over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward 3rd base overjoyed as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached 3rd base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, & 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 home, stepped on the plate, & 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 & humanity into this world'. Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and coming home and seeing his Mom embrace … her little hero of the day! (Source: P.Story/unk)
Humanity can be so, so beautiful.
Leo Tolstoy said, "The only certain happiness in life is to live for others." It is when we see the world with a larger level than ourselves. It’s when we become concerned for others
… that we find the depth of God's love in our lives.
At this Liturgy let us truly become the children of God,
let us imitate & follow the Good Shepherd … by loving those around us.