Thirteen-year-old Jared Stevens is just like any other kid his age, intellectually and emotionally. Physically, on the other hand, he has the capacity of 6-month-old: Jared has cerebral palsy. But he's still determined to live the life of an average 13-year-old kid -- he's even on his middle school's wrestling team! According to his coach Clay Mayes, the seventh grader practices with his team every day, so naturally he wanted to participate in a match like everybody else. Mayes knew he deserved a chance, so when it came to matching up wrestlers, he called up the other school's coach to explain: “It wasn’t about weight class ... I told him to point me toward the kid who has the kindest heart.”
And that's exactly what he got.
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Twelve-year-old Justin Kievit did something very few 12-year-old wrestlers would be willing to do: He threw the match. In the kindest way possible. After shaking hands with Jared, Justin got down on the floor and let himself be "pinned" by helping Jared to wrap his arm around him.
Not surprisingly, when Jared's dad posted a video of the match to Facebook, it went viral in about half a second. The clip literally defines "heartwarming." As a parent, I would be pretty much bursting with pride if either one of these boys were my son. Just watch:
Amazing, right? I'm blown away by Jared's bravery and Justin's compassion. So inspiring.
Can you imagine your kid doing something like this?
Image via TOCZone/YouTube
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Comments 95
Curious1145-grow a heart and stop being such a cynic. Jared is a kid who knows all about the unfairness of life. He deals with them everyday. Now he also knows about the kindness, friendship, and compassion of strangers. Everyone deserves a break from the harsh realities now and then.
I know that curious1145 has a right to their opinion but REALLY???? Jared has cerebral palsy so legitimately looking at the video he can't stand to meet his opponent toe to toe. True life is unfair but where is your humanity. Raising a child in today's society is hard enough let alone if they are ill or have a disability. It is children such as Justin that renews my faith that people still have hearts. I applaud that young man on his kindness and hope that there are more people like him in the world.
GREAT parenting!. These folks are doing something right.
Honestly, if the standard practice was to require kids to throw matches for those who are handicapped, I would have a HUGE problem with it. (Hey, I have a problem with giving every child on a team a trophy). But this was one match, one kid, one time. It's heartwarming! I'm sure this isn't going to ruin the young man's life and make him think life is going to be easy and everyone will roll over for him. He probably faces 'reality' every stinking day and enjoyed this one of a kind, special moment.