Fwd: GET OUT THE KLEENEX AGAIN (I needed it)

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  • To: C*@aol.com
  • Subject: Fwd: GET OUT THE KLEENEX AGAIN
  • From: S*@aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1998 08:14:06 EST

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  • To: a*@almatel.net, C*@aol.com, C*@aol.com, F*@aol.com, G*@aol.com, B*@aol.com, R*@aol.com, b*@freewwweb.com, S*@aol.com, J*@aol.com, H*@aol.com
  • Subject: GET OUT THE KLEENEX AGAIN
  • From: S*@aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1998 07:59:42 EST
Love People
I hope you all will enjoy this as much as I...truly a touching and thought
provoking message....

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 reaction.  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 McDonalds, 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
gentle man 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 to sit in the restaurant and
warm up, they had to buy something...they just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it...the compulsion as 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 that we were
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
McDonalds, 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 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 this story has touched you in any way, please pass it along.

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