Today I decided to do something I had been contemplating for days. One of my coworkers gave me a gift card to a store for Christmas. I wasn't sure if it would be appropriate to give that card away since it was a gift. However, I finally decided to just do it. So today I walked into the store and began pacing the countless isles. I thought to myself I am never going to decide who to give it to.
As I was walking through the isles something hit me, literally. I was in the toy isle and this little girl was asking for a play money set, and that was it. I walked up to the front and played eeny meany minny mo to pick a register. So when I landed on register 9 I thought how appropriate (because it is my favorite number). I walked up to the register, handed the cashier the gift card and said "I would love to use this towards another persons expenses. Could you please spend this money?" She looked at me with a puzzled look and then said yes, and well...I walked away.
I decided I didn't want to know who the person was standing there, or who she would chose to use it towards, or if she would keep it. To e honest, because it didn't matter. Either way someone else was going to have a better day, and that was all that mattered to me.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
December 28-Can I help you out?
Today I challenged myself again to do something that was not monetary. So today I decided to go to a local supermarket. At this store I decided to help people with their grocery's to the car. So I simply had to wait. Needless to say I didn't have to wait long! I helped all sorts of people, and had some really awesome conversations. At first some people were hesitant to allow me to help thinking I was expecting something in return. However, once they figured out I was just trying to be nice people were very appreciative. It was very cold and so it was much easier to have help with the groceries than to try and do it alone.
After about an hour of helping people, my very last person was a little old woman. She was very appreciative of my help as she bought a few extra items for an upcoming storm. However, the best part about this trip was her! She began to tell me jokes. Joke after joke after joke. It was hilarious! I was crying she had me laughing so hard. The said thing was I don't remember any of her jokes :-( But that's okay, this little woman was just giving a little laughter to a very busy world!
After about an hour of helping people, my very last person was a little old woman. She was very appreciative of my help as she bought a few extra items for an upcoming storm. However, the best part about this trip was her! She began to tell me jokes. Joke after joke after joke. It was hilarious! I was crying she had me laughing so hard. The said thing was I don't remember any of her jokes :-( But that's okay, this little woman was just giving a little laughter to a very busy world!
December 27-forgiveness
Today I decided to send cookies to my local prison. I know that this probably sounds very strange, but I think it is important to show kindness to all, not just those that we see everyday. So, today I called my local prison to see if they would accept that type of donation and the officer said yes with a cheerful voice, much different than how they answer. The officer began to just talk to me and told me something that has really stuck with me. The officer said that when they receive a donation like this that they tell the inmates where it is coming from. So today the officer was going to tell them that someone anonymously donated these cookies to them for Christmas. I said that would be great! The officer continued by saying that often time when a donation like this comes through that the inmates think of it as a sort of forgiveness. The officer said "they know they messed up, and usually just want to forget what they did. Stuff like this tell them that people will forgive them even if they themselves never do." Now that stuck with me.
Can you imagine spending the rest of your life, holding a grudge against you! To look at yourself everyday and think " what a failure." I almost cried when I thought about it. In Hebrews 10:17 the Lord says " Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." In Isaiah 1:18 the Lord says "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." I can't imagine knowing that my father can forgive me, but I couldn't, or my family couldn't. Today I was reminded to forgive. Forgive everyone. If God can look at each person each day as a precious infant of his creation, why can I not look at every person with fresh eyes too.
Can you imagine spending the rest of your life, holding a grudge against you! To look at yourself everyday and think " what a failure." I almost cried when I thought about it. In Hebrews 10:17 the Lord says " Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." In Isaiah 1:18 the Lord says "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." I can't imagine knowing that my father can forgive me, but I couldn't, or my family couldn't. Today I was reminded to forgive. Forgive everyone. If God can look at each person each day as a precious infant of his creation, why can I not look at every person with fresh eyes too.
December 26-a long lost family
Today one of my old employees took me out to lunch today. It was great to see her and her children and catch up with them all. We spent a lot of time talking about our lives, plans, and anything interesting going on. I told her about my random acts of kindness, and being a fellow follower, she wanted to help me with my days random act. Just as we were talking about it a family who I had not seen in years walked in and sat at the table behind us. Now this family is AMAZING! They have over come so much in recent years and somehow always come out with a smile on their faces. So my former employer and I decided to buy their lunch.
The family sat down, ate, and began to leave. Both of our tables got our checks at about the same time, except theirs didn't have a ticket on it. The father asked where their bill was and the woman pointed at our table. He stood up and said "you don't have to do that..." I told him that I wanted to though. This is when his wife began to cry. She got up and hugged me, thanked me, and began to tell me how good of a person I was and that God would reward me. I thanked her, but said it wasn't necessary to thank me, that instead she could repay the kindness to a stranger and make their day. Both her and her husband hugged me and said a stranger it is.
The family sat down, ate, and began to leave. Both of our tables got our checks at about the same time, except theirs didn't have a ticket on it. The father asked where their bill was and the woman pointed at our table. He stood up and said "you don't have to do that..." I told him that I wanted to though. This is when his wife began to cry. She got up and hugged me, thanked me, and began to tell me how good of a person I was and that God would reward me. I thanked her, but said it wasn't necessary to thank me, that instead she could repay the kindness to a stranger and make their day. Both her and her husband hugged me and said a stranger it is.
December 25- Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas everyone! I decided today that my random act of kindness would be total undivided attention to my family. I think that I often forget to spend time with my family. So, today as I opened my gifts (which were letters from my family and their random acts of kindness) I decided to spend some time away from everything else and just be a daughter, granddaughter, sister, and aunt. And for today...well that's enough.
December 24- Put this towards the next one
Today I was traveling from one corner of Ohio to another for the holiday. I knew I would spend a lot of time in the car which would ultimately make it more difficult to do a random act of kindness. So I decided to do something I would love for someone to do to me, buy some gas. I stopped just west of Columbus to fill up my own tank. I went in to pay for my gas, and decided it was now or never. I handed the cashier an extra 20 at the end of my transaction and asked her to put this money towards the next person who came in to buy gas. She looked at me and asked me if I was sure. I couldn't help but laugh and simply said yes. She couldn't believe it and said "wow...I have heard about people like you, but I thought it was all a joke." I again couldn't help but laugh and said "Nope, I'm no joke...Merry Christmas."
Even though I don't know who received my random act it was still awesome. The holidays are hard on everyone, and I'm just glad that I could make someone's day a little brighter.
Even though I don't know who received my random act it was still awesome. The holidays are hard on everyone, and I'm just glad that I could make someone's day a little brighter.
December 23-lunch anyone?
Today I decided to travel to a different mall and do what would turn out to be some of my favorite days of random acts of kindness. I went to the mall during lunch and decided to sit in the food court and let God work through me.
I sat in the food court for almost a half hour before I finally chose my family. I saw this woman and her husband with their three small children in line at a subway. This family was so kind, letting an older woman in front of their very hungry and whiny kids so she would not have to stand longer. I knew then that this family would be it. As they were all ordering, I walked up to the cashier and explained what I wanted to do. I was also very explicit that I wanted to do this anonymously. I handed her the money and said I would sit at a certain table so that if there was change or she needed more that I would do it when the family had left. She smiled and didn't say much to me, and I turned around to walk back to the table. I sat in awe as this family came up to pay. The man began to hand the woman money when she said that someone had paid for the family's meal. The wife was not aware of what was going on right away. The man began to ask questions, and that is when his wife turned to ask what was going on. The cashier said that someone had anonymously paid for their meal and to have a Merry Christmas. The woman stood a little taller, covered her mouth, and began to cry. Even though I was sitting a little ways away I heard her say "Why us?" It took all mu energy not to run up and give her a hug and simply say because we all deserve it. Instead I sat back and watched the woman hug her husband, her children, and shake the cashier's hand. The wife said "Make sure you shake their hand for me." I could not help it but shed a tear. As the family walked to find a seat they began telling other total strangers what miracle had just happened to them. She sat her children down and gave them their lunches, and embraced with her husband one last time before joining their children. I then watched them, with many other people in the food court by this time, pray over their meal. I again could not help but cry. This incredible family was not only grateful beyond words for what had just happened to them, but also explained to their children what happened and prayed for that incredible stranger as they prayed in undying love to their heavenly father. This family showed me how humble people can truly be. This family will forever stick in my memory.
I usually just do one a day, however, that last family put me in the giving mood. So I decided to sit for a little while longer and do it again. This time I did it to a woman with two children. She too began to cry as the cashier told her that someone had paid for their meal. This woman also asked who it was. When the cashier said they wanted to remain anonymous the woman turned around and tried to look for someone who she thought would have done this. The thing that got to me this time was her children. Her children were just a little bit older than the other family. Her children could understand what was happening. As their mother was frantically looking for someone to thank, her children took a much easier approach. They simply turned around and yelled "THANK YOU!" to the whole food court. Many people stopped and looked, and the mother joined in and said yes thank you. Again, I was so humbled by this encounter. I had no idea that today would be so emotional or so inspiring. These two families gave me a renewed strength in Random Acts of Kindness.
I sat in the food court for almost a half hour before I finally chose my family. I saw this woman and her husband with their three small children in line at a subway. This family was so kind, letting an older woman in front of their very hungry and whiny kids so she would not have to stand longer. I knew then that this family would be it. As they were all ordering, I walked up to the cashier and explained what I wanted to do. I was also very explicit that I wanted to do this anonymously. I handed her the money and said I would sit at a certain table so that if there was change or she needed more that I would do it when the family had left. She smiled and didn't say much to me, and I turned around to walk back to the table. I sat in awe as this family came up to pay. The man began to hand the woman money when she said that someone had paid for the family's meal. The wife was not aware of what was going on right away. The man began to ask questions, and that is when his wife turned to ask what was going on. The cashier said that someone had anonymously paid for their meal and to have a Merry Christmas. The woman stood a little taller, covered her mouth, and began to cry. Even though I was sitting a little ways away I heard her say "Why us?" It took all mu energy not to run up and give her a hug and simply say because we all deserve it. Instead I sat back and watched the woman hug her husband, her children, and shake the cashier's hand. The wife said "Make sure you shake their hand for me." I could not help it but shed a tear. As the family walked to find a seat they began telling other total strangers what miracle had just happened to them. She sat her children down and gave them their lunches, and embraced with her husband one last time before joining their children. I then watched them, with many other people in the food court by this time, pray over their meal. I again could not help but cry. This incredible family was not only grateful beyond words for what had just happened to them, but also explained to their children what happened and prayed for that incredible stranger as they prayed in undying love to their heavenly father. This family showed me how humble people can truly be. This family will forever stick in my memory.
I usually just do one a day, however, that last family put me in the giving mood. So I decided to sit for a little while longer and do it again. This time I did it to a woman with two children. She too began to cry as the cashier told her that someone had paid for their meal. This woman also asked who it was. When the cashier said they wanted to remain anonymous the woman turned around and tried to look for someone who she thought would have done this. The thing that got to me this time was her children. Her children were just a little bit older than the other family. Her children could understand what was happening. As their mother was frantically looking for someone to thank, her children took a much easier approach. They simply turned around and yelled "THANK YOU!" to the whole food court. Many people stopped and looked, and the mother joined in and said yes thank you. Again, I was so humbled by this encounter. I had no idea that today would be so emotional or so inspiring. These two families gave me a renewed strength in Random Acts of Kindness.
December 22-after you
Today I decided to strive for doing something without actually buying anything. I know it is possible, but it is hard sometimes to think of those random acts that don't require giving financially. So I decided to go to a local mall and hold open a door. Now, I know that this may not seem as fun and exciting as other days, but it honestly was just as great.
I stood outside a local mall for 2 hours and opened the door for people as they came and went from the mall. I was a little nervous that there would not be many people because it was during the day. Silly me, it is four days before Christmas of course there would be people!
Well, needless to say that this was a day that was surprising to many people. Some people had come and gone in my time there and asked me why on earth I was standing outside in such cold weather just to hold open a door. I replied, "it's the right thing to do. Because I want to. And it's not just a door to the person with bags and a small child, or the older lady walking in, you know?" The person who asked was so taken aback by my response that they actually joined me. It was such an awesome experience. I know that people can see, feel, experience random acts of kindness and are often changed or moved by them. However, to see someone so instantly change their plans for the day to stand outside, in the cold, with a total stranger to be kind to others was an incredible opportunity. The sad part was that I never caught their name. Thank you though, you helped make my random acts of kindness even more impact full.
I stood outside a local mall for 2 hours and opened the door for people as they came and went from the mall. I was a little nervous that there would not be many people because it was during the day. Silly me, it is four days before Christmas of course there would be people!
Well, needless to say that this was a day that was surprising to many people. Some people had come and gone in my time there and asked me why on earth I was standing outside in such cold weather just to hold open a door. I replied, "it's the right thing to do. Because I want to. And it's not just a door to the person with bags and a small child, or the older lady walking in, you know?" The person who asked was so taken aback by my response that they actually joined me. It was such an awesome experience. I know that people can see, feel, experience random acts of kindness and are often changed or moved by them. However, to see someone so instantly change their plans for the day to stand outside, in the cold, with a total stranger to be kind to others was an incredible opportunity. The sad part was that I never caught their name. Thank you though, you helped make my random acts of kindness even more impact full.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)