Post by Rhonda on Jan 24, 2006 21:01:18 GMT -5
To Smile & Accept #angel# #001#
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 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 a peaceful 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 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, "You're welcome. This is to
bring 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.
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, share this need to heal people
and 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~
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 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 a peaceful 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 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, "You're welcome. This is to
bring 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.
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, share this need to heal people
and 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~