Breakfast at Macdonald

This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! (After the story, there are some very 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 e veryone 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 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.

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 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:

WORTH

Horror gripped the heart of a World War-I soldier, as he saw his lifelong friend fall in battle. The soldier asked his Lieutenant if he could go out to bring his fallen comrade back.


"You can go," said the Lieutenant," but don't think it will be worth it.


Your friend is probably dead and you may throw your life away."



"The Lieutenant's words didn't matter, and the soldier went anyway.


Miraculously, he managed to reach his friend, hoisted him onto his shoulder and brought him back to their company's trench. The officer checked the wounded soldier, then looked kindly at his friend.


"I told you it wouldn't be worth it," he said. "Your friend is dead and you are mortally wounded."


"It was worth it, Sir," said the soldier.


"What do you mean by worth it?" responded the Lieutenant. "Your friend is dead."


"Yes Sir," the soldier answered,


"but it was worth it because when I got to him, he was still alive and I had the satisfaction of hearing him say....


"Jim...I knew you'd come."



*******


Many times in life, whether a thing is worth doing or not, really depends on how u look at it.


Take up all your courage and do something your heart tells you to do so that you may not regret not doing it later in your life........

Signed with Love

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: "How is my little boy ? Is he going to be all right ? When can I see him ?"

The surgeon said, "I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it."

Sally said, "Why do little children get cancer ? Doesn't God care any more ? Where were you, God, when my son needed you ?"

The surgeon asked, "Would you like some time alone with your son ? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university."

Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. "Would you like a lock of his hair ?" the nurse asked.

Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.

The mother said, "It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. "I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom." She went on, "My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could."

Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.

The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.

She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She laid down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Laying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said :

"Dear Mom, I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say "I Love You" . I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me.

He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know. Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything.

The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD ! And guess what, Mom ? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything.

But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom ? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'Where was He when I needed him ?' "God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children. Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool ? I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life.

Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery ! How about that ?


Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me

Bridge of Love

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict.

It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work" he said."Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother.Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us.

Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn?I want you to build me a fence - - an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing, and hammering.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all.

It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails and all -- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched."You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder.

"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more love bridges to build."

Let me love you

Once upon a time, there was once a guy who was very much in love with this girl.

This romantic guy folded 1,000 pieces of papercranes as a gift to his girl. Although, at that time he was just a small executive in his company, his future doesn't seemed too bright, they were very happy together. Until one day, his girl told him she was going to Paris and will never come back. She also told him that she cannot visualise any future for the both of them, so let's go their own ways there and then... Heartbroken, the guy agreed.

When he regained his confidence, he worked hard day and night, slogging his body and mind just to make something out of himself. Finally with all these hardwork and with the help of friends, this guy had set up his own company...

"You never fail until you stop trying." he always told himself. "I must make it in life!"

One rainy day, while this guy was driving, he saw an elderly couple sharing an umbrella in the rain walking to some destination. Even with the umbrella, they were still drenched. It didn't take him long to realise those were his ex-girlfriend's parents. With a heart in getting back at them, he drove slowly beside the couple, wanting them to spot him in his luxury sedan. He wanted them to know that he wasn't the same anymore, he had his own company, car, condo, etc. He had made it in life!

Before the guy can realise, the couple was walking towards a cemetary,and he got out of his car and followed them...and he saw his ex-girlfriend, a photograph of her smiling sweetly as ever at him from her tombstone... And he saw his precious papercranes in a bottle placed beside her tomb.

Her parents saw him. He walked over and asked them why this had happened. They explained, she did not leave for France at all. She was stricken ill with cancer. In her heart, she had believed that he will make it someday, but she did not want her illness to be his obstacle ... Therefore she had chosen to leave him.


She had wanted her parents to put his papercranes beside her, because, if the day comes when fate brings him to her again he can take some of those back with him. The guy just wept ...the worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them but knowing you can't have them and will never see them again.

He called it 'HOME'

An artist who wanted to paint the most beautiful picture in the world, asked a person: "What is the most beautiful thing in the world?"
"Faith" said the person. "you find it at any altar".
The artist also asked a young bride the same question.
"Love", she replied. "Love builds poverty into riches and sweetens tears, without it there is no beauty".
A weary soldier told him, "Peace in the world. war is the ugliest thing in the world. wherever you find peace, you find beauty".
"Faith, Love and Peace, how can I paint them?" thought the artist. Entering the door he saw faith in the eyes of his wife. And there in his own home, the artist saw the peace, that love and faith had built. So, he painted the picture - 'His masterpiece'. The picture of the most beautiful in the world and he called it - "HOME".

Fear killed the rest

A peasant was driving into a town. An old woman standing on the road asked him to take her up and drive her into the town with him. She sat next to him and as they drove along, he asked her who she was. The woman with a twinkle in her eyes told him that she was the CHOLERA. The peasant then ordered her out of his cart, but she assured him that in the town she would kill only ten persons.

Next moment she handed him a dagger and told him that if she killed more than ten, he was at liberty to kill her. The peasant later found in the town more than a hundred perished with the cholera. The angry peasant meeting the woman on the street, drew his dagger and was about to kill her.

The old woman calmly lifted her hand and told him, "I killed only ten, but fear killed the rest."

Oil is bought from my money

Chanakya (the author of Arthashastra and the guru of Chandragupta Maurya) preferred to live in a cottage rather than in the palace at Pataliputra. One day someone from the Greek Embassy expressed his wish to meet Chanakya. And he was escorted towards a cottage.
The surprised man commented, "Is this where the Chief minister lives."
"yes," said the escort.
A lamp was burning in a corner and in the light of the lamp, Chanakya was examining some documents. He put out the lamp and lighted another and asked the visitor, "welcome. what can i do for you?"
The Greek asked, "will you kindly explain why you put out that lamp and lit another?"
"I was doing work pertaining to the state. That oil is bought from the state funds. Now this is a personal interview. The oil in this lamp is bought from my money."

(Partha)

Jealousy kills Justice

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives, families, their homes, their jobs, and where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see from the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the colourful activity of the outside world.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man said. ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every colour of rainbow, grand old trees graced the landscape and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in distance. As the man by the window described all this in clear detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the beautiful scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window explained it with descriptive words. unexpectedly an ugly thought entered his head: 'why should he have all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything.'
It did not seem fair. As the thought became intense the man felt ashamed first. But as the day passed and he missed seeing more sights, he was envious of the other patient. He began to dislike him and found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window- this thought now controlled his life.
Late one night as he lay starring at the ceiling, the man by the window began to cough. He was chocking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window searched for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room he never moved, never pushed his own button which could have brought the nurse running. Within five minutes the coughing and chocking stopped along with the sound of breathing. Now there was only silence.
The following morning the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths, when she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendents to take it away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved to the window. The nurse was happy to make the shifting and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully he pushed himself up on one elbow to take his first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall. He wept endlessly while realising that the other man weaved lovely scenes of imagination to keep him happy.