I am a mother of three 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 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 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.
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

Let me not live a life that's free
From the things that draw me close to Thee,
For how can I ever hope to heal
The wounds of others I do not feel---
If my eyes are dry and I never weep,
If my heart is cold and it never bleeds,
How can I tell what my brother needs,
For when ears are deaf to the beggar's pleas,
And we close our eyes and refuse to see,
And we steel our hearts and harden our mind,
And we count it a weakness whenever we're kind,
We are no longer following the Father's way,
Or seeking His guidance from day to day--
For without crosses to carry and burdens to bear,
We dance through a life that is frothy and fair,
And "chasing the rainbow" we have no desire
For roads that are rough and realms that are higher--
So spare me no heartache or sorrow, dear Lord,
For the heart that is hurt reaps the richest reward,
And God enters the heart that is broken in sorrow
As He opens the door to a brighter tomorrow,
For only through tears can we recognize
The suffering that lies in another's eyes.

There was a little old cleaning woman that went to the local church. When the invitation was given at the end of the service, she went forward wanting to become a member. The pastor listened as she told him how she had accepted Jesus and wanted to be baptized and become a member of the church. The pastor thought to himself, "oh my, she is so unkempt, even smells a little, and her fingernails are not clean. She picks up garbage, cleans toilets - what would the members think of her." He told her that she needed to go home and pray about it and then decide .

The following week, here she came again. She told the pastor that she had prayed about it and still wanted to be baptized. "I have passed this church for so long. It is so beautiful, and I truly want to become a member."

Again the pastor told her to go home and pray some more.

A few weeks later while out eating at the restaurant, the pastor saw the little old lady. He did not want her to think that he was ignoring her so he approached her and said, "I have not seen you for a while. Is everything all right?"

"Oh, yes," she said. "I talked with Jesus, and he told me not to worry about becoming a member of your church."

"He did?" said the pastor.

"Oh, yes" she replied. "He said even He hasn't been able to get into your church yet, and He's been trying for years."

by Eddie Askew