The class was asked to go out and smile at
three people and document their reaction. 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 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 them
what they wanted. The man doing the ordering 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… hey, they 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 his 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 alone 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 moment and at
that time we knew that only because of the Grace of God that we had been given,
that we were 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, “may 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 the need to help
people and be helped.
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. Learn how to
LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS — NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE. If this true story
has touched you in any way, please share it with a friend, so we all can better
practice the love that Jesus Christ taught us.
-Author Unknown
