(no subject)
I got this in an e-mail fomr my dad and thought I should lj-cut it here for you guys to read!
Please read this it almost made me cry!
Breakfast at McDonald's ... Please read until the end.
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 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 fumbled with his hands as he stood
behind his
friend. I realized the second man was mentally
challenged 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 to 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 today and learn just 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. There is an Angel sent
to watch over
you.
In order for her to work, you must pass this on to the
people you want watched over.
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 it's food, but He does not throw it
into its nest.
You guys are all gunna be leaving footsteps on my heart!
~JoAnna