Iam a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed mycollege degree.
The last class I had to take was Sociology.
The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wishevery human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term wascalled "Smile."
The class was asked to go out and smile at threepeople and document their reactions.
I am a very friendly personand always smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought, thiswould be a piece of cake, literally.
Soon after we were assignedthe project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's onecrisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special play time withour son.
We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when allof a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even myhusband did.
I did not move an inch…an overwhelming feeling ofpanic 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 therestanding behind me were two poor homeless men.
As I looked down atthe short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling". His beautiful skyblue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. Hesaid, "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. Irealized the second man was mentally deficient and the blue eyed gentlemanwas his salvation.
I held my tears as I stood there with them. Theyoung lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee isall Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sitin the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wantedto be warm).
Then I really felt it – the compulsion was so great Ialmost 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 thecounter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I thenwalked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a restingspot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyedgentleman'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, "Idid 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.
WhenI sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you tome, Honey. To give me hope."
We held hands for a moment and at thattime we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were weable to give. We are not church goers, but we are believers. That dayshowed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.
I returned tocollege, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turnedin "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me andsaid, "Can I share this?"
I slowly nodded as she got the attentionof the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we, as humanbeings and being part of God, share this need to heal people and behealed.
In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, myhusband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on thelast night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of thebiggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
Muchlove and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this andlearn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS – NOT LOVE THINGS AND USEPEOPLE.
If you think this story has touched you in any way, pleasesend this to everyone you know.
Here is an Angel sent to watch overyou. In order for her to work, you must pass this on to the people youwant watched over.
An Angel wrote: Many people will walk in and outor your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in yourheart.
To handle yourself, use your head, To handle others, useyour heart.
Anger is only one letter short of danger.
Greatminds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discusspeople.
God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw itinto it's nest.
He who loses money, loses much; He who loses afriend, loses more; He who loses faith, loses all.
Beautiful youngpeople are acts of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.
Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to makethem all yourself.
The tongue weighs practically nothing, but sofew people can hold it.
via eMail, 8 Jul 2001