I received this wonderful e-mail from L.J, its worth sharing.

At the end of it, spare a few minutes and ponder......

How graceful it is to help someone and not expecting anythin in return....

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and 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, 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, my youngest son, and I went to McDonald's one crisp March morning for breakfast. 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 we re 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 the short gentleman 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.&nb sp; 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's when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were 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'nt do this for you, but for God, for He 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 fo r a moment and knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given 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 the last evening of my Sociology 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's when I knew that we, as human beings and God's children, share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way, I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, my son, my instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on that 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 reads this and learns how to

LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE
THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.