Unconditional Acceptance: What do you do when you meet the homeless face to face?

By Good News Network Saturday, July 14, 2001

Archives - Inspiration 2001-2003

My husband, son, and I went out to McDonalds. We were standing in line, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. An overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside me as I smelled a horrible dirty body smell. There standing behind me were two homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was smiling. His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of 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 perceived the second man was mentally deficient and the blue eyed gentleman was his salvation.

When asked what they wanted, he answered, “Coffee is all Miss” because that was all they could afford. It was a cold March morning and if they wanted to sit in the restaurant to warm up, they had to buy something. Then I felt a compulsion so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man. I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were on me. I smiled and ordered two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I walked to the table the men had chosen, put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, tears in his eyes, and said, “Thank you.” I leaned over and said, “I didn’t 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 we knew that only because of the Grace 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. We as human beings and part of God, share this need to heal people and thus be healed. In my own way I had touched my husband, son, and every soul in that McDonald's. I learned one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn. Unconditional acceptance.