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 what 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.
~~ Author Unknown ~~