Breakfast at McDonald's >> > >> > This is a good story and is true, please read it >> all the >> > >> > way through until the end! (After the story, >> there are some >> > >> > very interesting facts!): >> > >> > 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 & gt;> 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, >> &g t; >> > 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 >> > >> > e ven 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 f umbled w ith 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 blu e > ;> > >> > eyes. >> > >> > That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant >> were set >> > >> > on me, judging my every ac tion. >> > >> > 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 t he 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 ha nd 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 evenin g 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 >> studen t. >&g t; > >> > I graduated with one of the bigg est lessons I >> would ever >> > >> > learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE. >> > >> > Much love and compassion is sent to each and >> every person >> > >> > who may read this and learn how to >> > >> > LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND >> USE >> > >> > PEOPLE. >> > >> > There is an Angel sent to watch over you.