Breakfast at McDonald's

This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through untilthe end! (After the story, there are some very interesting facts!):

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed mycollege degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology.The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish everyhuman 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 theirreactions.I am a very friendly person and always smile at e veryone and say helloanyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and Iwent 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 suddeneveryone 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 insideof 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'. Hisbeautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched foracceptance.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. Irealized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentlemanwas his salvation.I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counterasked him what they wanted. He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that wasall 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 andembraced the little man with the blue eyes.That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging myevery action.I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two morebreakfast meals on a separate tray.I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as aresting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyedgentleman'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 satdown 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 pureLight of God's sweet love.I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story inhand.I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it. Then she looked up atme and said, 'Can I share this?'

I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read andthat is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share thisneed to heal people and to be healed.In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, instructor,and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as acollege 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 thisand learn how to
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LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.