setup: [E-Mail Ministry] Unconditional Acceptance

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UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE

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

Much love and compassion is to each and every person who may read this and
learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.

-- Author Unknown

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