The Project
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 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 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 (part of God) share this
need to heal. 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......after all....we are here to learn!
Much love and compassion sent to each and every person who may read this
