remember to smile

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 co! uld 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.

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 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 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 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.

.

here

I got this from one of my email lists! I thought it spoke volumes and it was worthy to pass along.
Here
The Rogers are devout Christians who have built a strong family. The father has a special interest in the spiritual condition of each of his children and
often would quiz them in order to know if they were sure of their salvation.
``
Occasionally he would ask them to share in their own words about their relationship with Jesus Christ.
``
One day it was seven-year-old Jimmy's turn to express how he knew he had Eternal Life.
``
Jimmy told his version: "I think it will be something like this in Heaven. One day when we all get to go to Heaven, it will be time for the big angel to
read from the big book the names of all the people who will be there.
``
"He will come to the Rogers family and say, 'Daddy Rogers?' and Daddy will say, 'Here!' Then the angel will call out, 'Mommy Rogers?' and Mommy will say
'Here!' Then the angel will come down to call out ''Susie Rogers ?' and 'Mavis Rogers?' and they will both say, 'Here!'"
``
He paused, took a big deep breath and continued. "And finally that big angel will read my name, 'Jimmy Rogers,' and because I'm little and maybe he'll miss
me, I'll jump and shout real loud, 'Here!' to make sure he knows I'm there!"
``
Just a few days later there was a tragic accident. A car struck down little Jimmy Rogers as he made his way to catch the school bus.
``
Jimmy was rushed by ambulance to the hospital, and all the family was summoned. He was in critical condition.
``
The little family group gathered around the bed in which little Jimmy now lay with no movement, no consciousness and no hope for recovery. The doctors had
done all that was in their power. Jimmy would probably be gone by morning. The family prayed and waited.
``
Late in the night the little boy seemed to be stirring a bit. They all moved closer. They saw his lips move; just one word was all he uttered before he
passed from this life. But what a word of comfort and hope for a grieving family he was to leave behind.
In the clear voice of a little boy, loud and clear enough so all could hear and understand, little Jimmy Rogers said one word: "Here!" And then he was gone
to another life
beyond this world, where a big angel was reading the names of all those written here.
``
author unknown

Chicago trip

It was a mild kind of day when the strube family got in the car for yet another trip to Chicago. With Ruthann in the back seat with her favorite and daddy beside her and grandpa in the front passenger seat and Grandma in the driver the strube crew was off. Yes today Friday June 9 we took another trip to Chicago. this time it was a duel trip. I was to see Dr. Mckennen for a final look and he was going to take a quick look at Ruthann. Ruthann was going to go under a infussion cat scan. She was a trooper. she cried a little while they were putting the iv in but other then that she was awesome. she laid perfectly still during the scan and everything. she even got a doll to keep and a sticker and some clip on ear rings. we went from the scan to grab something to eat. we all were a bit hungry. then off to Dr. McKennen's office. we hit bumper to bumper traffic. finally arrived at his office. they were a bit busy but we eventually got in. it was a windy day in Chicago and we made the mistake of not bringing jackets. but my appointment went well. he will be getting back with us as soon as he sees the results of Ruthann's scan. Ruthann was quite the trooper both going and coming. while at Dr. Mckennen's office she was quite hiper. but calmed down on the way home. we stopped for Mcdonalds and she was happy. of course fell asleep on the way home. all in alll it was a good day and I suspect this isn't going to be the last trip to Chicago but we'll see. hope all are doing well.

explaining God

I got the following in a email and thought it worthy to post here. it is awesome and so innocent.
THIS ONE IS FABULOUS!!! It was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista, CA. He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment,to "explain God". I wonder if any of us could have done as well?
EXPLANATION OF GOD:
"One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grown-ups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teachingthem to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers."
"God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times besidebedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in hisears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off."
"God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom anddad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have."
"Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church."
"Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learnabout God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him. But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his fatherthat they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K."
"His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He couldstay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and whichones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important."
"You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time. You should always goto church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!"
"Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beachuntil noon anyway."
"If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but Godcan. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids."
"But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases."
"And...that's why I believe in God."
thanks Mo