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 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 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 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 to 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.
BLACKBURNE & BROWN
MORTGAGE COMPANY, INC.
George Blackburne, III, Esq.
President and Chief Procrastinator
You
can reach George at george@blackburne.com
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