Educational Preview

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE

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 3 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 only
because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

We are not church goers, but we’re 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 son,
the 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.

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.