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From: Unknown author OKAY
Date: 11 Sep 2000
Time: 12:17:49
Remote Name: mango.arctic.net
Smile Power > > This is a good story, please read it all the way through. > > (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 theterm 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. > > If you think this story has touched you in any way, please send > this to everyone you know Here is an Angel sent to watch over you. In > order for her to work, you must pass this on to the people you want > watched over. > > An Angel wrote: Many people will walk in and out or your life, but > only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. To handle > yourself, use your head, To handle others, use your heart. Anger is > only one letter short of danger. Great minds discuss ideas; Average > minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. God Gives every bird > it's food, but He does not throw it into it's nest. He who loses > money, loses much; He who loses a friend, loses more; He who loses faith, > loses all. Beautiful young people are acts of nature, but beautiful > old people are works of art. Learn from the mistakes of others. You > can't live long enough to make them all yourself. The tongue weighs > practically nothing, but so few people can hold it. > > Keep this going.