Beautiful Story

This is truly a beautiful story!

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

gentle man 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 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.

If you think this story has touched you in any way, please send this to everyone you know.

May God bless you.