Breakfast Anyone?

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, and 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 it was only because of the
Grace we had been given that we were able to give. 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.
- Author Unknown