Now Hear This: A smile can make a difference
This is a poor man’s story.
You don’t like reading about the poor? Please turn to the sports section – which is always about money!
This is the story about a smile. This story is also true.
I did not write this story. The author is unknown, at least to me, but that’s not really important. What’s important is the message. Here is the story:
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 one in sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities I wish every human being had been graced with.
The teacher’s final project of the term for us was called “smile.” Our class was instructed 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 project 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 some 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 so did my husband. I, however, did not move an inch. An overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why everyone had moved. As I turned around I smelled a “dirty body” odor, 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 acceptance.
“Good day,” he said 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 man was his salvation.
I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what he wanted.
“Coffee is all Miss.” That was all he could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and get warm, they had to buy something. They just wanted to be warm).
Then I 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. I smiled and asked the lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table 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 and began to pat his hand and said, “God is working here 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 and said, “That is why God gave you to me, honey. To give me hope.”
We held hands, and at that moment we knew that only because of the grace 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.
“Can I share this?” she asked.
I nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew 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 of the last night I spent as a college student.
I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn – unconditional acceptance.
(Hope Hines is a television sports reporter and Nashville personality.)