> 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. > If you think this story has touched you in any way, > please send this to everyone you know. > > 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 it's food, but He does not throw > it into it's nest.