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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 a 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 was mentally deficient and the blue eyed gentleman
was
his salvation.
I
held back 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 churchgoers, 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.
An
angel wrote: Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only
true
friends will leave footprints in your heart.
To
handle yourself, use your head.
To handle others, use your heart.
God gives every bird its food, but he does not throw it into its nest.
author
unknown
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