I have a file on my computer where I save things that have been sent to me. I have decided to share these now and again instead of just keeping them to myself. I especially love things that inspire me or just make me feel good. This little story is one of them.
There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six pack of root beer, and he started on his journey.
When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old woman looked hungry so he offered her a Twinkie. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?". He replied, "I had lunch with God". But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!". Meanwhile, the older woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and asked, :Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?" She replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." But before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."
Never underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a day around for someone or turn a life around.
This makes me think of the day a few years back when I went to the nursing home where my very old (96)grandmother lived. It turned out to be the last time I really interacted with her before she passed away, but on that day as I walked into the nursing home I walked towards the woman I thought was my grandmother. She was wearing a pinkish colored outfit, and this woman gave me the most beautiful smile ever (a kind of apple Annie smile) and I thought just how joyful she looked. But then I felt slight confusion and wondered if it really was my grandmother because the facial structure seemed somehow a little off. I went to check with the nurse who insured me it was my grandmother.....without her teeth. Now the grandmother I knew would never run around without her teeth, but as she neared the end I think some release happened, she took out her teeth for freedom, and gave me that huge great smile. It wasn't very long until she was having lunch with God for real.
