Subject：Breakfast at McDonald's

An original article sent from New Jersey…

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, 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 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.

If you think this story has touched you in any way, please send this to everyone you know. There is an Angel sent to watch over you. In order for her to work, you must pass this on to the people you want watched over. An Angel wrote: Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

To handle yourself, use your head. To handle others, use your heart. God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest.

一則從美國紐澤西傳來感人故事的中文譯本…

「麥當勞的早餐」

我是一位三個小孩（他們的年紀分別為14、12、3 歲）的母親，最近剛從大學畢業，我最後一堂修習的課程是「社會學」；我的授課老師是一位讓人很能強烈感受她高雅氣質的女士，她所指定學期末的最後一個課程習題就是「微笑」…

老師要求班上的同學走入人群，對三位陌生人微笑同時記錄他們的反應；原本我就是一個很友善的人，我經常對人們微笑和主動打招呼，因此老師所指定的題目對我而言，就全然是個愉快而輕鬆的任務了！在我們被老師指派習題之後不久，三月裏某個清冷的早晨，我和先生、小兒子一起到麥當勞去吃早餐，我常利用那種機會陪兒子度過他的嬉戲時光…

我們三個人來到麥當勞餐廳排隊等候點購早餐時，包括我先生在內的一群人突然紛紛往後退去，而我則紋風不動站在原處；當人們退散的同時，我的內心驚恐地涌現出一股難以抗拒的不安感覺…

當我轉身時，有一股惡臭的氣味撲鼻而來，原來在我的身後站立著兩個無家可歸的可憐遊民；此時我俯視比較接近我的一位矮小男士，他正朝著我「微笑」，而他一雙綻放天使光芒的水藍色美麗眼睛則在尋求我的接納…

「早安」他說，此時他細數自己手中緊握的幾個銅板，而站在他身後的第二個男人則笨拙不安地搓揉著雙手，那位男士似乎在尋求藍眼男人的金錢奧援，我當時含著淚水和他們並排站立在一塊兒…

櫃檯後方的女侍詢問他們想要點些什麼樣的食物，那位藍眼男士回答說「小姐，只要咖啡就行了。」因為那是他手上僅有的銅板所能負擔得起的，他當時唯一的目的只是想要進來「取暖」，而任何人走進餐廳都必須購買某些食物才行！我當場有一股強烈的衝動想用雙手去擁抱那位藍眼男士，此時整個餐廳的客人都把視線投向了我，也都在觀察我的每一個舉動…

我微笑著請櫃檯後方的女侍用另一個盤子盛裝兩份早點，隨後走到餐廳角落那兩個男人的桌旁，我將餐盤放下同時把自己的手擺在藍眼男士冰冷的手上；他的眼睛含了淚光朝著我說「謝謝你」，此時我俯身向前輕拍著他的手背說道：「我這麼做並不是為了你，上帝只是透過我來賜給你希望。」…

接下來，我含著淚水走向丈夫和小兒子的桌次，當我坐下時，丈夫微笑著說道：「親愛的，上帝把你賜給我，祂就是經由你來賜給我希望。」我們兩人的雙手緊握了好一會兒，我們的付出和接受他人的贈與原來都是同等的喜悅呀！我和我的先生都不上教堂，但是我們都相信上帝；那一天，祂親和而溫暖的愛讓我得到純凈榮光的深切體悟…

學校課程的最後那個傍晚，我帶著前述故事返回教室，老師在讀完我的報告之後，她看著我問道：「我可以和大家分享你的故事嗎？」我緩慢地點點頭而此時也引來全班同學的注意；我終於理解原來我們和上帝並沒有什麼兩樣，我們都同時承受著「慰藉與被慰藉」的相同需求…

在麥當勞餐廳接觸人群純粹只是我的個人行為，之後我的先生、兒子、老師還有班上的同學們卻都分享了我的感受：在學校課程裏我的最大收穫就是「無條件的接納」…

讀完前則故事之後，請把更多的愛與憐憫傳送出去並試著學習「愛人役物」而非「役人愛物」…

如果本文的故事在某些方面的確感動了你，請將它發送給你所認識的每一個人！有一位天使正被派來探視著你，而你也必須把這個訊息傳送給你所想要探視的人；一位天使如此寫道：「有很多人在你的生命中進進出出，但是只有真摯的朋友會在你的心中留下足印。」

處理自己時，用你的頭腦；執禦他人時，請用你的心… 上帝餵養每一隻小鳥，但是祂不會把食物丟進鳥巢裏…

3/13/2007