Though it is long it is worth the read!!
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 play time 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 deficient 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
the 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 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.