ഒരിക്കൽ ഒരു ശിഷ്യൻ സൂഫിവര്യനോട് ചോദിച്ചു:
ഗുരോ, എന്തുകൊണ്ടാണ് ജീവിതമാകുന്ന പരീക്ഷയിൽ നമ്മിലധികം പേരും തോറ്റു പോകുന്നത്..?
ഗുരു മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു:
യഥാർത്ഥത്തിൽ ജീവിതമാകുന്ന പരീക്ഷ വളരെ ലളിതമാണ്. പക്ഷെ , നമുക്കോരോരുത്തർക്കും ദൈവം വെവ്വേറെ ചോദ്യപ്പേപ്പറാണ് നൽകുന്നത്. ഇതറിയാതെ നാം അടുത്തിരിക്കുന്നവന്റെ ഉത്തരം കോപ്പിയടിക്കാൻ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നതു കൊണ്ടാണ് പരീക്ഷയിൽ തോൽക്കുന്നത്.
Source: Darul Fiqh
As the days come to closer to one’s marriage, excitement, ecstasy and elation pump through the bride and groom. The build up to marriage is an experience of thrill and jubilation. When the marriage is solemnised, one’s happiness and delight is on the verge of brimming and tipping over. When the newlywed couple meet for the first time, words cannot describe the sweetness, bliss, serenity, pleasure and elation tasted by the two.
If every day of the marriage mirrors the first day of marriage, and every night reflects the first night of marriage, then marriage is a euphoric experience on this world.
The first couple of months are always a ‘honeymoon’. Once the couple settle down, then reality begins. Many couples fail at this point. The husband gets engrossed in his job. He comes home tired and late, feeling hungry and tired. He demands for the food and feels lazy to do anything. He eats, puts the dirty plates in the sink and lies down on the sofa. He might awaken to perform salāh if he is conscious of salāh. Otherwise, he wakes up later on towards the night, phones a few friends, watches TV and keeps ordering the wife to get him x and y. When it is time to sleep, if the husband is in a good mood he will have relations with his wife-but only to satisfy his needs. Once he is fulfilled, he stops and drops off to sleep. Whether the wife is satisfied or not does not even cross his mind. This becomes the routine of his life.
The wife on the other hand, she initially tries to please her husband. She slowly loses her enthusiasm as she does not receive enough attention from her husband. She cooks to please her husband. She will put effort into her food. She will try and perfect every detail in the food. The presentation, ingredients and spices are put meticulously so they complement each other. After a while she tires from this as the husband does not compliment, instead he criticises her food. As soon as the husband goes to work, she is on the phone to her associates. She cooks, watches TV, cleans the house and enjoys her day before her husband comes home. Once the husband comes, she becomes a slave again.
This style of marriage wherein there is no affection and no real emotion is heading towards destruction.
The husband needs to implement the romance the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam. We consider Romeo to be romantic but not the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam. If I was to say the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam was the most romantic individual, I would not be lying. By looking attentively at the biography of the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam, you will find that he was the most romantic person to walk this Earth.
He is the best example for the ideal husband. He was comforting for his wives, wiping their tears, respecting their emotions, hearing their words, caring for their complaints, alleviating their sadness, going in picnics with them, racing with them, bearing their abandonment, discussing matters with them, keeping their dignity, supporting them in emergencies, declaring his love to them and was very happy with such love.
The husband and wife have to bond with one another psychologically, physically and spiritually. Here are some attractive examples and points we need to adopt to achieve a marriage of romance:
1) Know their feelings
The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam once said to Sayyidah Aisha radiallahu anha : “I know well when you are pleased or angry with me. Aisha replied: How you know that? He said: When you are pleased with me you swear by saying “By the God of Mohammad” but when you are angry you swear by saying “By the God of Ibrahim”. She said: You are right, I don’t mention your name.”[1]
The husband and wife should be aware of each other’s feelings. The husband should be able to gauge when his wife is upset or sad, likewise the wife should be able to read her husband’s behaviour. By being conscious of one another’s feelings, it will help resolve any differences. When your spouse is down or upset, be there to console him/her. Sit with them, speak with them, listen to them. Try and make them smile. If the husband is always conscious of his wife’s feelings, and the wife is always conscious of the husband’s feelings, then this will assist greatly in keeping the ‘flicker’ alight.
2) Console her
Sayyidah Safiyah radiallahu anha was on a journey with the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam. She was late so the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam received her while she was crying. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam wiped her tears with his own hands and tried his utmost to calm her down. [2]
This is another feature a marriage must have. Each spouse has to be there for the other in the good and bad times. The wife should find comfort and solace in the husband and the husband should find warmth and love in his wife. Be gentle with one another.
3) Laying in the wife’s lap
The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would recline in the lap of our beloved mother Sayyidah Aisharadaillahu anha even in the state when she would be menstruating. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallamwould recite the Qur῾ān whilst reclining in his wife’s lap.[3]
How many times have we rested in the lap of our spouse? These gestures may seem trivial but they are the acts which bring the hearts close. The wife can sense and see the love of her husband for her in such actions. Every so often come home and just go and rest in the lap of your wife. She will appreciate this gesture greatly.
4) Combing the spouse’s hair:
Aisha radiallahu anha would comb the hair of the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam and wash his hair.
This is how close a couple has to be. Love evolves and grows to such an extent that a spouse yearns to do everything for the other spouse even if it simply combing their hair. To maintain a high intensity of love, do the little things for your spouse also. Little acts have a huge psychological impact on the mind of the spouse. Seldom comb their hair, take their clothes out to wear, bring them a cold drink on a hot day, prepare something for them etc.
5) Drinking and eating from one place:
Aisha radiallahu anha would drink from a cup. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would take this cup and search for the place where the lips of his beloved wife made contact. Upon finding the place where his wife drank from the cup, he would put his lips on the very same place so that his lips have touched the place where her lips touched. He would then drink the contents of the cup at the same time enjoying union with his spouse. When there was meat to eat, Sayyidah Aisha radiallahu anha would take a bite. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would take the meat from her hand and again place his mouth the very same place where his wife ate from. This would add taste of love to his food.[4]
Do things together with your wife. Do not just eat at the same time and on the same tablecloth, but eat from the same plate. Let alone the same plate, eat together from the same article of food. This will bond the hearts so close to one another. When everything your wife comes into contact with becomes more beloved to you than food itself, imagine the flame of love in your lives?
6) Kissing:
The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would kiss his wife regularly. Even when he salallahu alaihi wasallam would be fasting, he would kiss his wife.[5]
Compliment your spouse often with kisses. When exiting the house, make it habit you leave by coming into contact with your spouse. When returning home, along with saying salām to her, show that you have missed her dearly.
When she is working or busy in her household chores, surprise her with a kiss. You have to show your love. Love is the fuel of marriage; if you desire your marriage to progress, you have to express your love in every way you can.
Physical relations in a marriage are very important. The famous saying is, “actions speak louder than words.” Show your spouse you love her. Sharī῾ah promotes romance and physical relations between the husband and wife. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam categorically stated,
“Conjugal relations with your wife is a sadaqah.”[6]
6) Lifting the morsel to her mouth
The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam said : If you spend an amount you will be rewarded for it, -even when you lift the morsel to your wife’s mouth.” [7]
The husband and wife should make these gentle gestures to exhibit their love and appreciation. Feed your spouse with your own hands now and then. This will rekindle the flame of love in your marriage.
7) Assisting her in the housework:
The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would clean and help at home. He would see to his needs himself rather than demanding his wife. He would clean and see to his clothing himself.
Without being asked, if the couple help each other in day to day activities, it will make one appreciate the other. Likewise, one should try his best not to demand his/her spouse to do things too much. Whatever one can do himself, he should do. We need to be considerate of the spouse. The wife works tirelessly all day. So if the husband was to be considerate and realise his wife works hard, this will touch the wife. Likewise, if the wife was to go out of her way to see to the needs of her husband being considerate, it will induce a great spark of love between the two.
8 ) Telling her stories
Discuss stories and events with your spouse. Engage in light hearted discussions with her-something to laugh and joke over. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam on many occasions would discuss stories, events and have light hearted discussions. The famous story narrated by Sayyidah Aisha radiallahu anharegarding Umm Zar’ is evident.
This is one angle which is neglected more so than often. It is all ‘business’ between the husband and wife. They do not get into light hearted conversations. Instead, the husband rings his friends and chuckles with them. The wife on the other hand giggles during the day with her friends. This should not be the case. Focus and divert all your amusement and entertainment at your spouse. If you want to laugh, then let it be that you are laughing with your wife.
Make it a point in your busy schedule daily where you sit with your wife and do nothing but have fun with her.
9) Sharing happy occasions with her:
Once when the Ethiopians were practicing target shooting in the masjid complex, the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam stood with his wife watching. Not only did the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam stand with his wife, he put his cloak around her. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam although he had other jobs to do, he stayed there standing with his wife. He only went when his wife wanted to go.[8]
A husband should be one who shares happy occasions and experiences with his wife. When it is raining, cold or sunny, one should shelter his wife.
You should be willing to sacrifice your errands to spend time with your wife. When the spouse sees sacrifice for her sake, it will create immense love and respect in their heart.
10)Racing with his wife
The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would exercise and play with his wife also. The famous incident of the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam challenging his wife to race is well known.
When a couple can have such good times together, it only ignites the love even more.
11) Calling her by a beautiful name:
The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would call his wife ‘Humairā’’ out of love. Linguistically it means the little reddish one, but the scholars state that in reality it refers to someone who is so fair that due to the sun they get a reddish tan. This was the reason why the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam called her Humairaa’.[9]
Call your spouse nice sweet names. One has to show his partner love and affection in every little thing. One needs to feed love constantly to his spouse to keep the flame burning.
Once the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam stared into his wife’s eyes. He was gazing at the world within his wife’s eyes. He then said to Sayyidah Aisha radiallahu anha in praise of her beauty,
“How white are your eyes.”[10]
This is what is needed. The husband and wife should be constantly complementing and praising each other. The husband has to show his love and attraction to his wife. The wife needs to show her infatuation for her husband. When there is a reciprocal relationship, the marriage climbs heights.
12)Dress for your spouse
Sayyiduna Ibn Abbās radiallahu anhu said: “As my wife adorns herself for me, I adorn myself for her. I do not want to take all of my rights from her so that she will not take all of her rights from me because Allah, the Exalted, stated the following: “And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them.” (Qur῾ān 2 :228.)[11]
This is another area where many spouses fail. The wife only dresses when it is a special occasion. The husband on the hand stays scruffy and does not take care to be neat and tidy. If the couple want their everyday to be a special occasion like their wedding day, they must dress to impress!
The wife should wear the clothing which pleases her husband. Likewise, the husband should wear what the wife likes. Every time the husband and wife glance at each other, the glance should arouse them and stir up more love for their spouse. This will ignite the love in the heart.
13)Utilising perfume:
The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would have a container for perfume. He would use perfume constantly.[12] One should make an effort to smell good for his wife all the time. Looking good, keeping clean, smelling nice compliments a relationship exceptionally. Make sure you hair is tidy, your clothes are neat and you smell pleasant. This will attract your spouse always and inject affection into the marriage.
14)Do not talk about her private matters:
The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam described the one who discloses his wife’s affairs to others as amongst the worst of people.[13]
Whatever occurs between yourself and your spouse should remain between you two. How unmanly and shameful is it when a husband discusses his wife to his friends? The secrets and issues of the spouse must not be narrated at all to anyone. Do not talk about your wife to others. Your wife is for you. You are for your wife. Your fidelity and loyalty should always be to your spouse.
15) Loving & respecting their families
Another great factor to contribute to a healthy relationship is to love and cherish the family of your spouse. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam was once asked whom he loved the most. He replied, “Aisha.” When the questioner rephrased his question and asked from amongst the men, he replied, “Her father.”
The Prophet could have easily said Abu Bakr. His answer displays such intelligence and ingenuity, that in one response he displayed his devotion to his wife and her family. He exhibited his fondness for his in-laws. Imagine how happy his wife Sayyidah Aisha would have become upon hearing this response?
Compliment your in laws in front of your wife. Compliment your wife to her family. Your wife will really appreciate this.
Never underestimate the importance of seemingly little things as putting food in your wife’s mouth, opening the car’s door for her, etc.
Try to always find some time for both of you to pray together. Strengthening the bond between you and Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala is the best guarantee that your own marital bond would always remain strong. Having peace with Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala will always result in having more peace at home.
Citation references here.
Source: Nairaland Forum
1-Listen actively. When your husband expresses an opinion or a thought, pay attention. This shows you respect him and his views and nothing pleases a man more.
2-Dress pleasantly/attractively. Mostly women dress properly when going outside and at home they wear worst clothes..U should dress urself so that ur husband will feel good when he looks at u...
3-Smell good. :)
4-Say thank you with a smile. When your husband does an odd job around the house, thank him like you really mean it. He will know that his help is not taken for granted and he will be happy to do more.
5-Race to the door when he comes home, as if you were waiting for him. Smile and hug.
6-Prepare his favorite meal. After he returns home from work on an ordinary day, surprise your husband with his favorite dinner. He will not only be glad to have the food he likes best, but will appreciate the time and effort you put in preparing it.
7-Don’t lay out all your problems on your husband as soon as he walks in. Give him a little mental break
8-Don’t keep asking him, “what are you thinking?”… because unlike women, men’s thoughts are as random as the results of a Google search.
9-Give your husband a nice massage, after a particularly exhausting day at work.
10- Be kind to your mother-in-law the same way you would like your husband to be kind to your own mother. Treat his siblings as ur siblings and his father as ur father and u would see then how much he will respect u
11-Learn all the rights and obligations of each other in Islam.
12-Keep your house clean, at least to the level that he wants it.
13-Compliment him on the things you know he’s not so confident about (looks, intelligence) etc. This will build his self-esteem.
14-Tell him he’s the best husband ever.
15-Call his relatives for a lunch or dinner at your home.
16-Give him a simple task to do at home and then thank him when he does it. This will encourage him to do more.
17-When he’s talking about something boring, listen and nod your head. Even ask questions to make it seem like you’re interested.
18-Stop nagging non-stop before Allah ta’ala gives you something really to complaint about.
19-Help him to find and build his inner strengths and skills.
20-Encourage him to do good deeds.
21-Share Islamic knowledge with each other. Try to watch Islamic channels together so that u both can learn.
22- If he’s in a bad mood, give him some space. He’ll get over it, insha Allah.
23-Thank him sincerely for providing you with everything.
24- If he’s angry with you and starts yelling, let him yell it out while you’re quiet. You will see your fight will end a lot faster. Then when he’s calm, you can tell him your side of the story and how you want him to change something.
25-When you’re mad at him, don’t say “YOU make me furious”, rather, “This action makes me upset”. Direct your anger to the action and circumstance rather than at him.
26-Remember that your husband has feelings, so take them into consideration.
27-Let him chill with his friends without guilt, especially if they’re good guys. Encourage him to go out, so he doesn’t feel “cooped up” at home.
28-If your husband is annoyed over a little thing you do (and you can control it), then stop doing it. Really.
29[b]-Learn how to tell him what you expect without him having to guess all the time. Learn to communicate your feelings[/b].
30-Don’t get mad over small things. It’s not worth it.
31-Make jokes. If you’re not naturally funny, go on the internet and read some jokes, and then tell them to him.
32-Tell him you’re the best wife ever and compliment yourself on certain things you know you’re good at.
33-Learn to make his favorite dish.
34-Don’t ever, EVER talk bad about him with ur friends or family unnecessarily.
35-Use your time wisely and get things accomplished. If you’re a housewife, take online classes and get active in your community. This will make you happy and a secondary bonus is that it impresses your husband.
36-Husband and wife should discuss and communicate with wisdom with each other to convey what they like and dislike of each other to do or not to do. NOT give command or instruction like servant. Because Allah says in quan “They are garment to each other”
37-Tell your husband you love him many many times.
38- Make sure all his clothes are clean and pressed so he is always looking fresh and crisps.
39- Ask Allah to strengthen and preserve the bonds of compassion and love between the two of you, every day, every prayer. Ask him to protect that bond from Shaytaan. When a lesser devil destroys the love between spouses, he is the most beloved of Shaytaan.
40-The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Try to make his favorite food
41-Always let him know that you appreciate him working. It makes it easier for him to go to work.
42-Surprise him with gifts. Even necessities can be gifts.
43-Listen to him. (Even when he talks about extremely geeky things like Queries, Tables and other boring things.)
44-Try (hard as it might be) to take interest in his hobbies.
45-Take care of your skin, esp. facial. Face is center of attraction.
46- Learn tricks and “techniques” to please your husband in intimacy. Of course goes both ways.
47-When you are sitting together, quietly slip your hand into his. Your husband will love the easy expression of intimacy between you two.
48- If you are not satisfied intimately, talk to him and tell him. Help him or provide resources, don’t wait till matters become worse.
49-Prepare for special evenings with him with special dinner and exclusive time
50-Don’t discuss important/controversial matters with him when he is tired or sleepy. Find right time for right discussion.
51-Learn to compromise
52-Respect his rights
53-You have to know about the financial conditions of your husband so that you do not demand a thing that is too hard for him to buy. Because if wife demands a very expensive thing which husband couldnt buy then he becomes mentally tensed and sometimes he does not tell her wife about that.
54-Ups and Downs are a part of time. You have to keep your behavior with your husband same in both times. Else he will be broken. If any calamity strikes him make him sure that you are with him and will be always
55-Share your happiness and sadness with him.
56-Accept him as is, he is a package deal.
57-Send your husband a text message out of the blue with a message of love.
58-Send him an email without a reason.
59-Ask him to buy gifts to his parents and siblings.
60-Write love notes or poems and place them in the book he's been reading.
61-Teach your children to respect and honor their father.
62-Yes for flattery. No for arguing.
63-Call your husband with the best names, cute nicknames, and names he loves to hear.
64-Always give him pleasant surprise.
65- Preserve and guard the tongue.
66-Expect, accept, and overlook his shortcomings.
67-Expect and respect his jealously.
68-Put food in your husband's mouth.
69-Leave the past for Allah, don't dwell on, dig into, or bring it up.
70-Don't ignore the small things, deal with them before they be come big.
71-Avoid being harsh-hearted.
72-Respect and show that you appreciate his thinking.
73-Respect and understand him when he might not be in mood for intimacy.
74-Maintain the secrecy and privacy of the home.
75-Remember you are not always right or perfect yourself.
76-Have a good intention for him.
77-Designate a nice, clean, spacious area in your home for the two of you to pray at night whenever you can.
78-Let him have the TV remote. Granted, that you wish your husband spent more time with you, than watching the sports channel/NEWS, but it will make him happy.
79-Find a quiet moment with your husband to whisper “ I love you” in his ears. If you have already said it, say it again. You can never say these three words too often and you can be sure, that every time it will make your husband glad, he married you.
80--Hold his gaze. When you are speaking to your husband or listening to him, make sure that you keep eye contact. This will assure him of your attention and your respect, which is empowering to any man.
81-Take care of his money and properties.
A woman came to ask the Prophet (peace be upon him) about some matter, and when he had dealt with it, he asked her, "Do you have a husband?" She said, "Yes." He asked her, "How are you with him?" She said, "I never fall short in my duties, except for that which is beyond me." He said, "Pay attention to how you treat him, for he is your Paradise and your Hell." (Ahmad, al-Nisa'i Al-Targhib wa'l-Tarhib, 3/52)
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"Any woman who dies, and her husband is pleased with her, will enter Paradise."
[Ibn Majah, Book 1 Hadith 59]
The parts in Bold I find very much interesting, I have no doubt a lady observing all these rules would have an everlasting happy Family.
If I have a wife doing all these (81), Walahi she would be the queen of my Empire! Although all theses can’t be achieved at a time, working on them one point at a time consistently would make the Magic, in sha ALLAH.
This is Aseer Mushakkal (mixed fruit juice or cocktail, some say). This one of the things I take once in a while. The other is Aseer Afkadoo (which looks green and tastes better to me, because it's more sweet because of the sugar :) , may be).
Sometimes this is my breakfast, sometimes lunch, and sometimes dinner too. I buy this from Shawarman, one of the main Shawarma centres nearby. Just like their shawarma, they have juice also of different size and quantity. Small (sageer), medium, and big (kabeer). In this photo is the Mushakkal kabeer. It's also tasty with many fruits mixed, they say. Guava taste cam be identified quickly, I hope. It is a Pakistani who is in the juice counter, named Muhammad Ashraf and he serves me this.
I prefer Afkadoo mostly, but these days it is not available. Ashraf bhai says, take this for now. We shall give Afkadoo when it is available. I felt happy, just because of the love with which he serves the juice. Masha ALLAH!
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 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, who was mentally and physically disabled 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 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 as a father I also understood that if my 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.
I 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. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my 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 I 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.
B y 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 me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE 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 workplace.
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. Close this page
2. Share with others
May your day, be a Shay Day!
An interesting exchange between two geniuses:
Einstein said to Chaplin: "What I most admire about your art... You don't say a word, and the rest of the world understands you."
"It is true", answered Chaplin, "but your glory is even greater. The whole world admires you, even though they don't understand a word of what you say!
