27 Random Acts of Kindness

Did you know that this week, February 10-16, has been set aside as Random Acts of Kindness Week?  I know...who knew?  There is an entire website dedicated to this idea.  It is named, none other than...Random Acts of Kindness.  Apparently, people all over the country feel that it's a good thing to do good to others...for no apparent reason.  I know...who knew? 

While this thought obviously did not originate with the creators of the Random Acts of Kindness website, it sure is increasing in awareness with them.  I'm all for it.  Anything that will get the word out and remind us to give, give, give and then give some more.  A happy heart is a giving heart.  Remember the song we used to sing in Bible class?

Love is Something if You Give it Away

Love is something if you give it away

Give it away

Give it away

Love is something if you give it away

You'll end up having more

Love is like a lucky penny

Hold it tight and you won't have any

But, give it away

And you'll have plenty

You'll end up having more

You're singing it now, aren't you?  It's addictive.  It's supposed to be.  It's got a great little tune to keep it ringing in your head just long enough that it just may stick. 

Ok, all sarcasm aside.  It really is pretty cool that there is a website dedicated just the cause of giving.  You really should browse through it.  They got great "quick list" of  Random Acts of Kindness whether you're at home, at school, at the office, or at college.  

Here's their short "anywhere" list.  It's a great list. 

I love #1, Just smile at one extra person.  

Boy, is that hard one or what?  

The grocery store is the best.  I can't get anyone to smile at me!  It's wretched at times.  Everyone has this mean, get-out-of-my-way-so-I-can-get-my-food-and-get-home look.  What if we just looked up and smiled?  

And then there's #2, Eat lunch with someone new.

What?  You mean I have to smile at a stranger AND spend 1 hour of my day with someone new?  It is difficult.  I get it.  My lunch time is special.  It's my time to break up my day and just sit in peace before my afternoon starts.  But, what if you asked just 1 new person, possibly that person whom you NEVER go to lunch with, to grab a burger with you?.  You may find out you really aren't that different at all.  And what's 1 hour going to hurt? You'll be fine.  Tomorrow's a new day. 

Last year, I participated in an odd Random Acts of Kindness.  It was on my birthday, and I decided to spend my special day blessing other people instead of spending the day with people blessing me.  It was the best birthday I had EVER had.  You can scoot over to the Birthday Project page on my blog and read about it.  I have also put the link here, 36 Birthday Blessings, giving (instead of getting) gifts on your birthday.

For now, I'm going to give you a quick list of 27 things you can do TODAY, with little money required.

You'll also need to print out (free!) this R.A.O.K. label I made and tape to your blessings!  

#1, Send a Cookie Bouquet to your mom who lives far away.  I've used Corsco's cookies and their cookies are delicious! 

#2, Write a thank you note to your employer thanking them for hiring you AND putting up with you!

#3, Make a homemade note card to send to a new friend.

#4, Send a prepaid Gas card to a friend struggling financially.  Everyone needs gas. 

#5, Print out pictures of you and your family and send to loved ones.  No one EVER prints out pictures anymore and EVERYONE loves getting mail.  Especially with pictures inside.  

#6, Leave a box of candies in the mailbox for your postal carrier.  Put on the box my R.A.O.K. sticker and a little blue note of thanks for door-delivering all your packages and boxes!

#7, Take a dozen donuts to work with you one morning.  Your coworkers will love you!  At least for that day.

#8, Buy some post-it notes, paper pads, and new pens and deliver to your child's Preschool or Day School.  The teachers will love it.   

#9 If your kids are extra creative and make Rainbow Looms or Paracord bracelets, have them make a few!  You can have them pass them out at the bookstore to other kids.  

#10, Buy a box of doggie bones and take to your vet's office.  They will be shocked!

#11, Take a dozen donuts to your local firehouse.  They may even let you hop in their firetruck!

#12, Take some of those cute Paracord or Rainbow loom bracelets your kids made to your Starbucks' crew.  No one ever gives them anything!

#13, While at Starbucks, buy someone's coffee.

#14, Take a dozen donuts to your child's school office.  They will love your kid for the day!

#15, Drop a sweet note and a $5 Starbucks card to your Teller when you get your check cashed.  Her smile (or shock) will be worth it!

#16, Take big goody bag full of toys from the Target dollar section to the Baptist Women's hospital waiting room.  Bless the siblings in the waiting room waiting for a baby brother or sister to be born. 

#17, While you're at the hospital, tape exact change on the vending machines.  Put them in a ziplocked bag with a R.A.O.K. sticker on it.

#18, Go to Target and put taped signs in the women's dressing room stalls that say "You are Beautiful".  Isn't this the worst place to EVER be?  I hate dressing rooms.  I always feel completely miserable when I walk out. 

#19, Leave a generous tip to your waitress at lunch.  Put it in this ziplocked bag with a R.A.O.K. sticker.

#20, Go to a Laundromat, run in, find someone in need, and give her 2 Tide packets (3 in each bag) for her laundry.   The surprise and shock will make doing laundry seem like fun for them. 

#21, Stop at Chick-Fil-A  drive-through line and pay for the customer's order behind you.

#22, Take a dozen cookies (a great afternoon treat) to your children's pediatric office.   

#23, Of course, make Blessing Bags and give away to homeless people you may find on the road.   I filled my blessing bag with: peanuts, cookies, spam, kleenex, aspirin, mouthwash, body wash/shampoo, a water bottle, and a $5 bill.

#24, Go to your neighborhood park and hand out bottled waters.   It is a great way to "break the ice" with strangers and just say hello. 

 

#25, Stop by the bookstore, scope out a family to bless, and give them a gift card to help pay for their purchase.  I found this family sitting in the children's section.  They already had several books in their hands that they were planning to purchase.  God is good. It gave me an opportunity to talk about my joy in Jesus and why I wanted to bless them.

 

#26, Tape a bag of popcorn in a ziplock bag on a RedBox machine with a R.A.O.K. sticker on it.  I love giving the "unseen" blessings.

#27, Last but not least...take out the trash! To most of you this may not seem like a big deal, but believe me, is it for me.  I NEVER take the trash out.