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 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 McDonalds, 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 gentle man 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 (to sit in the restaurant and warm up they
had to buy something...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 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 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 (part of God) share this need
to heal.
In my own way I had touched the people at McDonalds, 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......after all....we are here to learn!
(664 words)
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