Today is the first of what will be twice monthly blog link-ups with one of my daughters-in-law, Melissa, and at times my daughter, Elizabeth (when her nursing school schedule allows). Each month we will have a common theme or subject we will write about. We will then include links to each other's blogs so with a simple click you can see what they wrote about that same topic.
Our second link-up will be the last day of each month (like this post) when we will have a "giving back" theme - telling random acts of kindness we have done and/or received that month. It's a great motivator for me to keep the good deeds going. I find it easy to do nice things for others at the holidays when I am in the Christmas spirit - but it is important to keep doing those random acts of kindness throughout the year. Writing about what we have done each month will keep me accountable... and reading Melissa and Liz's blogs will also give me ideas!
I can not emphasize enough that this is not to get kudos for doing nice things. We all get our ideas for random acts of kindness from others. My hope is that we can keep the Christmas spirit alive throughout the year one nice gesture at a time. Wouldn't that be something to celebrate???
Today is the first end of month blog about giving back.
So with the stage set, here we go!
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Don't you just love random acts of kindness? The idea of doing something nice for someone else with no expectation of receiving something in return - just to make someone's day a little brighter - our world needs more of that!
Nothing makes me happier than random acts of kindness, but they always involve a giver and a receiver. So I wanted to tell you some ways Michael and I have been blessed by others recently:
Our second link-up will be the last day of each month (like this post) when we will have a "giving back" theme - telling random acts of kindness we have done and/or received that month. It's a great motivator for me to keep the good deeds going. I find it easy to do nice things for others at the holidays when I am in the Christmas spirit - but it is important to keep doing those random acts of kindness throughout the year. Writing about what we have done each month will keep me accountable... and reading Melissa and Liz's blogs will also give me ideas!
I can not emphasize enough that this is not to get kudos for doing nice things. We all get our ideas for random acts of kindness from others. My hope is that we can keep the Christmas spirit alive throughout the year one nice gesture at a time. Wouldn't that be something to celebrate???
Today is the first end of month blog about giving back.
So with the stage set, here we go!
******
Don't you just love random acts of kindness? The idea of doing something nice for someone else with no expectation of receiving something in return - just to make someone's day a little brighter - our world needs more of that!
Nothing makes me happier than random acts of kindness, but they always involve a giver and a receiver. So I wanted to tell you some ways Michael and I have been blessed by others recently:
*We received wonderful plates of Christmas cookies.
*We had three different friends give us totes full of books for our Little Free Library - (we seriously need to expand our book storage area)!
*One friend brought us veggies she froze from her garden - what a treat!
*Another friend made a donation to an animal shelter in my name.
*And we have had neighbors help with clearing our sidewalk after a snow.
We appreciated each of these so much. It is so nice to be thought of!
On the flip side, here are some random acts of kindness we have done this month:
*As blogged about earlier in December, we sent a Christmas card to Connie and asked family and good friends to send her a card as well. Hopefully her mailbox was flooded with Christmas greetings!
*Our church has a cafe with coffee, hot chocolate, juice, muffins, etc. available for purchase. Our church is large, so giving out 1,000 to 2,000 cups of coffee each Sunday would add up pretty fast. Coffee is only $1, and I love to take it into church with me, sit, and prepare for worship. Each Sunday when we go to church I pay for coffee for the next person in line.
*On Christmas Eve Day my son, Tom, and daughter-in-law, Laura, went with me to shop for gifts for 4 kids who were going to be spending Christmas Day in the hospital. The kids ranged in age from 2 months to 15 years. With their help we picked out presents for each, tucked them in gift bags, and delivered them to the hospital pediatric floor. I can't imagine spending Christmas in the hospital with a child... or as a child. We hope the gifts made Christmas Day a little brighter for the kids and their families.
*We went through the drive-thru at Starbuck's recently and paid for the car behind us.
There was one other act of kindness we did this month but to tell it requires a story, so here it is.
You know Michael and I love hockey and are fortunate enough to be able to attend some of the Iowa Wild games.
One night while on Facebook I was reading a trivia question by the Iowa Wild. The winner would receive 4 tickets to a game. I saw someone named Marcia had posted, "We have never been to an Iowa Wild game.... come on Santa!" I remembered that we had tickets for the game the next Wednesday night. It is difficult for us to make weekday games when we have to get up for work the next day. Arriving home late, getting to bed late, and getting up early for work the next morning makes for a really short night.
One night while on Facebook I was reading a trivia question by the Iowa Wild. The winner would receive 4 tickets to a game. I saw someone named Marcia had posted, "We have never been to an Iowa Wild game.... come on Santa!" I remembered that we had tickets for the game the next Wednesday night. It is difficult for us to make weekday games when we have to get up for work the next day. Arriving home late, getting to bed late, and getting up early for work the next morning makes for a really short night.
I asked Michael if he wanted to go to that game. He didn't think so, so I told him I thought I knew someone who would enjoy using the tickets and told him about Marcia.
I sent Marcia a message on Facebook and told her we had tickets for the game on Wednesday and they were welcome to use them if they did not have plans. Since we did not know each other I hoped she would see my message, but knew where she worked so we could contact her there if needed.
The next morning we found a message from her - "Is this real????" She left us her phone number and within a few hours we were chatting on the phone. She was so excited! She and her husband couldn't wait to go. We connected so easily on the phone that we ended up chatting about things that we were going to explain and share when we met. It was just one of those times where you feel like you have known someone for ages. Michael and I were going to a game the next afternoon and planned to meet and give them the tickets then.
The next day when we met I was not at all surprised when Marcia got out of her car and gave me a big hug! Sometimes after even the shortest of phone calls you just know what someone is going to be like. Marcia said, "This is just a God thing!" It turns out she was supposed to have worked that Wednesday night, but someone at work had asked her to trade days, so she already had Wednesday night off!
We visited with Marcia and her husband, Bruce, for a bit - and discovered we had a LOT in common and we could have easily visited much longer. Before leaving Marcia opened her checkbook - she already had a check with my name on it ready to go. Michael and I just shook our heads, tucked the envelope with the tickets next to the unused check, and told them we didn't want anything for the tickets.
Before leaving Marcia gave Michael a hug too (I love huggers!)... and we told them to enjoy the game.
And they did.
We met a great couple all because of two hockey tickets. Michael and I just marveled at how much we had in common with them, and how much we had to talk about. We hope to get together with them for coffee or dinner sometime soon after the holidays.
Just when you think you are doing something nice for someone else, they end up blessing you as well.
I couldn't have said it better than Marcia, "It truly was a God thing."
Let's keep the random acts of kindness going throughout the year! Please comment with things you have done or ways you have been blessed.
"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end."
- Scott Adams, Creator of Dilbert Comic Strip
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Ready to read more feel-good stories?
For Melissa's blog - click here
For Liz's blog - click here
I couldn't have said it better than Marcia, "It truly was a God thing."
Let's keep the random acts of kindness going throughout the year! Please comment with things you have done or ways you have been blessed.
"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end."
- Scott Adams, Creator of Dilbert Comic Strip
*******
Ready to read more feel-good stories?
For Melissa's blog - click here
For Liz's blog - click here
Thanks, Barb, for all of your random acts of kindness. You are such a thoughtful person (and Michael, too). As for me, I received a BIG surprise at Walmart earlier this fall. I had momentarily stopped at the entrance to McDonalds to ponder if taking a cart into that area was allowed. Someone tapped me on the shoulder and placed a $10 bill in my hand. I turned around to hear her say, "Pass it on," and she was gone in a flash. First time that has ever happened to me, and I was happy to pass it on to my neighbor.
ReplyDeleteI love that story! Didn't that just make your day? Thanks for sharing ... I'm adding it to my to-do list!
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