Off subject - but very touching!

[Guest guest]

Someone sent this to me and I found it to be so inspirational for myself that

I knew it would touch someone on this list as well. Tangia

> Just to start your weekend on the right foot....

>

> > 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 Mc'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 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 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, " 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 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 be healed.

> > In my own way I had touched the people at

> > Mc'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.

> > 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.

> > If you think this story has touched you in any way,

> > please send this to everyone you know.

> > An Angel wrote: 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 it's nest.