This is a good story and is true, please read it all the
way through until the end!
(After the story, there are some very interesting facts!):
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently
completed my college degree.
The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was
absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every
human being had been graced with.
Her last project of the term was called "Smile." The class
was asked to go out and smile at three people and document
their reactions.
I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and
say hello anyway , so, I thought this would be a piece of
cake, literally. Soon after we were assigned the project, my
husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one
crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special
playtime with our son.
We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of
a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then
even my husband did.
I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic
welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had
moved.
As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell,
and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As
I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was
"smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's
Light as he searched for acceptance.
He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been
clutching.
The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his
friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged
and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.
I held my tears as I stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.
He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they
could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and
warm up, they had to buy something). He just wanted to be
warm.
Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost
reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.
That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set
on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the
young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast
meals on a separate tray.
I then walked around t he corner to the table that the men
had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table
and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand. He
looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank
you."
I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do
this for you. God is here working through me to give you
hope."
I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and
son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That
is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope."
We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that
only because of the Grace that we had been given were we
able to give. We are not church goers, but we are believers.
That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love. I
returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this
story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor
read it.
Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I
slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.
She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human
beings and being part of God share this need to heal people
and to be healed.
In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my
husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the
classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I
graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever
learn:
UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person
who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE
THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.
