Breakfast at McDonalds.

Post 187 - - - - - - Wednesday, 18th April, 2007.

Hi Everyone ~~ I hope all is well with all of you. I am fine and
gradually getting back to normal. Still some folks to visit. As it is
late, tonight I will get straight into it.

Tonight's story came from my friend of long standing, and it is
called "Breakfast at McDonalds." Thanks to Barbara.

This is a good story and it is true, please read all the way through
until the end. After the story there are some interesting facts.

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, closest to me, he was “smiling”. His beautiful sky blue eyes
were full of God’s Light as he searched for his 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 back 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 resaurant were set on me,
judging my reaction.

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. We are not
curch 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 the 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 hsband, 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 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.

AN angel wrote : Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only
true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
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WOMEN'S RANDON THOUGHTS - - -

Insanity is my only means of relaxation.

Reason to smile : Every 7 minutes of every day, someone in an
aerobics class pulls a muscle.

Women over 50 don't have babies because they would put them
down and forget where they had left them.

One of life's mysteries is how a 2 pound box of candy can make a
woman gain 5 pounds.

My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.

The best way to forget all your troubles is to wear tight shoes.

The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't
know what you're doing, someone else does.

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then
your body and your fat are really good friends.

Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.

Sometmes I think I understand everything, then I regain
consciousness.

I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing
together and setting my panty-hose on fire.

Its amazing how when you hang something in your closet for
a while, and it shrinks two whole sizes.

Skinny people irritate me ! Especially when they say things like,
"You know, sometimes I forget to eat."

Now I have never forgotten to eat. You have to be a special kind
of stupid to forget to eat.

A friend of mine confused her valium with her birth control
pills. She has 14 kids, but she really doesn't care.

They keep telling us to get in touch with our bodies. Mine isn't
all that communicative, but I heard from it the other day after I
said, " Body, how'd like to go to the 6 o'clock class in vigorous
toniing?" Clear as a bell my body said, "Listen you. . do it and die."

The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about
nothing (and then they marry him).

I read an article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating
too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding?
That's my idea of a perfect day.

I know what Victoria's Secret is . . . The secret is that nobody older
than 30 can fit in their stuff.

If men can run the world, why can't they stop wearing neckties? How
intelligent is it to start the day by tying a noose around your neck?

Why do you press harder on the buttons of a remote control when
you know the batteries are dead?

Why do we put suits in a garment bag and garments in a suitcase?

How come abbreviated is such a long word?

Why do we wash bath towels? Aren't we clean when we use them?

Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

Why do they call it a TV set, when you only get one?
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Must get off to bed, so Cheerio for tonight Folks,
Love and best wishes to all. Merle.

Post 187 - - - - - Wednesday, 18th April, 2007.