Unconditional Love - Coffee is all Miss

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 seperate 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
nigh. 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!