From Tina Barkley
Sent Monday, September 29, 2003 11:13 AM
Subject Fw Breakfast at McDonald
A mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3)
recently completed her college degree.
The last class she had to take was
Sociology.The teacher was absolutely inspiring
with the qualities that we 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.
She is a very friendly person and
always smiles at everyone she
meets and says hello anyway,
so, she thought this would be a
piece of cake, literally.
Soon after they were assigned the
class project, she, her husband,
youngest son, went out to McDonald's
one crisp March morning.
It was a way of sharing special
playtime with their son.
They were standing in line,
waiting to be served, when
all of a sudden everyone
around them began to back
away, and then – even her
husband did.
She didn’t move an inch...
an overwhelming feeling
of panic welled up inside
of her as she turned to
see why they had moved.
As she turned around she
smelled a horrible "dirty
body" smell, and there
standing behind them were
two poor homeless men.
As she looked at the short
gentleman, closest to her,
he was "smiling".
His beautiful sky blue eyes
were full of God's Light
as he searched her face
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. She
realized the second man was
mentally challenged and
the blue-eyed gentleman
was his salvation.
She held her tears standing
there with them at her side.
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 she really felt it - the
compulsion was so great
she almost reached out
and embraced the little
man with the blue eyes.
That is when she noticed
all eyes in the restaurant
were set on her, judging
her every action. She
smiled and asked the young
lady behind the counter
to give her two more
breakfast meals on a
separate tray.
She then walked around the
corner to the table that
the men had chosen as
a resting spot. She
placed the tray on the
table and laid her hand
on the blue-eyed gentleman's
cold hand.
He looked up with tears in
his eyes, and said, "Thank
you."
She 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."
Then she started to cry as
she walked away to join her
husband and son.
When she sat down next
to her husband he
smiled and said,
"That is why God gave
you to me, Honey, to
give me hope."
Husband and wife held hands
for a moment and at that
time, they knew that only
because of the Grace that
had been given to them were
they able to give.
That day showed this little
family the pure Light of
God's sweet love.
She returned to college, on
the last evening of class,
with this story in hand.
She turned in "her project"
and the instructor read it.
Then she looked up at her
and said, "Can I share this?"
She slowly nodded as the
teacher got the attention
of the class. The teacher
began to read and that
is when she knew that
we as human beings and
being part of God share
this need to heal people
and to be healed.
In her own way she had touched
the people at McDonald's,
her husband, son,
instructor, and every soul
that shared the classroom
on the last night she spent
in school as a college
student.
This lady graduated with one
of the biggest lessons she
would ever learn:
UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
Many people will walk in and
out of your life, but only true
friends will leave footprints
in your heart.
To handle yourself,
use your head.
To handle others,
use your heart.
God Gives every bird it's
food, but He does not
throw it into its nest.
