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.

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 seemed 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 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. (In order 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 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, as he
said "Thank you." I paused for a moment, and then said simply,
"May God 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 of God 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 "Yes" and she got the attention of the
class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we each, as human
beings, share a common need to heal, each in our own way. 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… be
kind to all… after all… we are all here to learn. May we all learn
how to love people and use things, and not love things and use people.