Monday, February 21, 2011

Breakfast

I received the following in an email. I looked it up and it has said it is not true but there is a big lesson to learn in the story. It is sort of long but well worth the reading.


I Samuel 16:7 "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."

It is man's tendency to see the outward appearance while God looks and sees what is in a person's heart. It seems man looks a lot at the materialistic things and that is not what makes a person. A person that has the materialistic things may look great but if we only knew what was in his heart and perhaps how he got these things. I am not saying all people that have beautiful materialistic things are this way because I know quite a
few people that have these things and they are great Christians and their number one is the Lord, He comes before anything else. It is what they worship and feel they can't get along without.

Breakfast at McDonald's

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 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 playtime 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 challenged 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. 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 to be healed. In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, the 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.

I hope you have enjoyed this story although it isn't true (but it could be and we not know it), it does teach us a lesson. I believe God would be proud of us to learn a lesson such as this.

I John 4:8; "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is Love". We can show love in many ways. By helping people in need, showing kindness, helping one another, smiling at someone, yes, a simple smile may make a person feel loved and, saying 'hello' to someone you pass by, it may make them have a brighter day, we just never know what we can do to make someone feel better. It will even make us feel better just knowing we have shown some kindness to someone.

I feel I am richest person in the world. Why? Because I have the love and the riches of the Lord and I am so happy that I have received this. I pray all that read this will also find the love, happiness, and riches I have through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Thank you for stopping by and may you know the peace of the Lord. Blessings!

3 comments:

Jenifer Metzger said...

This story may not be true, but I know that somewhere in the world this has happened before. It is a beautiful and inspiriing story and we could all learn a lesson from it. I want to be Jesus hands and feet. Thank you for sharing this.

Unknown said...

What a great story! We are to shine the light of Jesus everywhere we go. Sometimes that smile is exactly what someone needs to feel God's love.

Debi said...

I, too, have gotten this email in my inbox. And as Jenifer said, it really doesn't matter if it is 'web' true. I know that this very situation has happened too many times to count. I can only pray that I will be as loving and giving as the lady in this story. Thank you for posting this reminder of God's love.