Sunday, February 10, 2008
Collecting Kindness...
I know many of you check out my blog everyday to see what ridiculous dance I am doing in my kitchen, what craziness I endured at home with a way-too-busy 2-year old or how in the world I entertained 3 bored children on their last snow day, but this post is about OTHERS!
February 11th - 17th is National Random Acts of Kindness Week - yes, it IS a national holiday. Ranks right up there next to Christmas and Easter for me...and this one is a WEEK long!
You all saw what happened when we rallied our troops for the Avery Family in December. We watched a miracle happen as they were given the gift of spending a beautiful Christmas together, one they will never forget. The money that you all donated ($2200) was used to purchase a burial plot so that the Avery's could have Julian close to home. Their only other option before you all (complete strangers, mind you) was a plot donated by a family member that would have been over an hour away.
Simple random acts of kindness, with nothing expected in return and you helped to make a miracle; a miracle the Avery family will never forget!
A new Miss America stands before the country each year and makes a promise to "change the world" but we have seen, right here on My Semblance, that you don't have to be famous to change someone's life. One act. That's all it takes.
Now, Manic Mommy has been running a contest for donating blood - I would consider that a R.A. of K, wouldn't you?
Here's my challenge - and it is WORLDWIDE!
I know I have the best readers there are - you proved it - so can I get a group high five and a committment to CHANGE THE WORLD - ONE RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS AT A TIME? How many do you think we can collect?
Send a note to brighten someone's day, let someone in line ahead of you at the store, pay the toll for the person behind you, buy a cup of coffee for a co-worker, etc. It's not hard and it's not expensive.
Leave your ACTS in the comments on this post and I will link to it in my posts during this week.
Let's make history by inspiring others to do the same - spread the word - email everyone you know - move over Miss America! it's our turn to CHANGE THE WORLD!
A mere 3 seconds after I hit "publish"...Heather at Rice-A-Roni-ville offered a piece of her GORGEOUS hand-soldered silver jewelry for the winner if we run a contest of BEST R.A. of K!
Soooooo, a CONTEST IT IS!! February 17th we will close and hold a VOTE - he or she who is voted BEST RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS will win a custom piece by Heather of Faith Creations!
Leave your comments and ACTS below...nothin' cooler than COLLECTING KINDNESS! Heather left the first ACT - read below!
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25 comments:
You took MY contest.....just kidding, but I was going to offer a prize for best "random act of kindness" on my blog. Didn't realized there was an actual week set aside so this is just perfect. So, now we can just collaborate. I will post a picture of the prize on my blog tomorrow. It'll be a very special hand-soldered pendant and chain. So add an addendum to your blog stating such, so that people know, there's something good in it for the winner. Hee hee....can't wait to see the responses on this one. By the way, last week I paid for the gentlemen's lunch behind me in the drive thru line at ChickFilA.
Almost forgot, add a cut off date for submittal of people's "random acts" on your blog and then your blog readers can vote on who they think it should go to....Or pull their name out of a hat....THEM choosing who wins would be funner.
just realized "funner" isn't a word, I meant to say MOST fun...
RAofK - yes good! But I am really responding cause that is my Kristin on your blogher add - and I got excited to see her pic! :)
gonna have to link to your post on this one... it is just good and i had no idea there was such a week either.
grins Laura
daughter and I both donated blood saturday, and it was random as we went to walmart and saw the blood bus and decided spur of the moment and a slight bribe on my part to get her to go, but hey whatever works right?
Hugs Laura
I paid a woman's library fines, so she could use her card for herself and her family. She's a nice woman and a good mother. She's having a hard time making ends meet and her teens "forgot" to return their borrowed items for quite some time. When she came into the library she was devastated at check out that her accumulated fines had blocked the use of her card. Her little boy wasn't very happy that he had to put his chosen books back. I reminded her that February was Food for Fines month and she could use canned goods in leiu of cash. I thought she was going to cry when she said even that would be hard on her right now. On payday I went in before my painting class and paid her fines. I told my coworker to call her and tell her she had been "gifted" and that her card was paid off and she was free to use it. I also made him promise not to say who did it. I enjoy doing things like that on a regular basis...it makes me happy!
If anyone is thinking of giving blood, also check out www.marrow.org to find out how to get on the donor list. Michelle, just the idea of a encouraging people to be kind is awesome. I'm voting of you.
First, Michelle, I left you a present on my blog, but that's contest aside. This isn't mine but my neighbor told me this just yesterday and I thought it was so cool. He was walking down the street to a Carl's Jr. and saw a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk. He made a wide berth around him and didn't make eye contact, like people tend to do, but while he ordered his food he thought how much he had just acted like the first 3 people in the good samaritan parable so he ordered 2 dinners and took the other back out, kneeled down and made eye contact with the man and said, "Dinner's on me tonight." He said he sure got a big lesson on the love of the Savior that night.
What a great idea!!! I must say I'm inspired to figure out how to do this on my very limited budget - what fun!
I'm doing an act of kindness for a pal right now...as I type (one handed), I'm holding her 15 mo, watching her 3 yo run around my house playing with my 4 yo twins & waiting for her 5 yo (& mine) to get home from school. But
I wouldn't really call that random cos she watches mine too :)
Can't wait to see the responses!!
I had to buy an extra stamp today, and it worked out because the lady behind me needed extra postage and the line was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO long, so I stuck my stamp on her envelope and told her to have a great day.
My husband is the king of Acts of Random Kindness - the other night we had a HUGE snowstorm and he went to 5 different houses and used our snowblower to clear their driveways...in the middle of the night. Most of the people don't even know it was him that did it.
This isn't my act, but it's my family, so I'll share - not for the contest, though, since it isn't me acting. My aunt and uncle's home burned down on Sunday afternoon - the one they bought as newlyweds 28 years ago and never left. They got out with their health, their wallet and purse, a cell phone, and the clothes on their backs. Since then, family members and friends are calling to find out where to send them money, and my mom drove nearly 4 hours to bring them clothes, pj's, and personal care items to get them through a few days until they can sort out what they're going to do.
This is for Heather..... us folk in PA have a different dictionary then the rest of the country. FUNNER is a word and can be used without shame! Use it with pride.
Thanks Swatcop....I was hoping my vernacular was understandable....
Michelle, just stopping by to see how many "random acts" have been performed so far.
Come on peeps, lets get these acts rolling. There are lots of people out there that need to be blessed.
By the way, Michelle--Luke figured out a way to de-spiralize honey bee gourds antennae....He thinks it's so funny to stretch them out now. He was also "ribbiting" froggie gourd all over the kitchen table last night. I told you he'd have a blast.
I'm getting emotional just thinking about how many people are going to have a smile on their face because of this R.A of K challenge! Such a WONDERFUL idea! I've got the warm fuzzies going on ;-) I sell boutique children's clothing on ebay. I was chatting with one of my customers last week, getting measurements and such for her daughter's set, and she mentioned how excited she was to get this outfit. She told me that they are going on a holiday the beginning of march and was hoping to get this outfit in time for that. She also made the comment that her daughter looks alot like my daughter, Myah (she models my clothing for me in my auctions) except that her daughter just got 10 inches cut off her hair, which they donated to Locks of Love. I was touched by the fact that they would do that, so I made my "Tropical Punch sundress" and sliped it in with the other outfit as a suprise for their holiday. They just sound like a mother/daughter team that deserve a treat! I'll be stalking your blog now to see all the R.A of K, I'm so excited, I just LOVE stuff like this!!!!
What a fantastic idea. I had no idea this was a national holiday! I'm going to try to make at least 1RAofK each day and I'm going to try to get my kids (ages 11, 9, & 5) in on this too.
ok, yes i am a talker (for anyone who knows me) BUT I don't normally just walk up to complete strangers in public places & pray for them! This past weekend while traveling home-a somewhat grueling trip. I (along with my travel mates) stopped at a Truck stop to get some much needed information-how do we get home from here since ALL the roads were closed because of accidents. So this young family is in the truck stop with the same dilemma-only they have a 1 yr old & a 100 lb dog that they have been traveling with for HOURS! God placed this family heavily on my heart & right in the very center of the traffic flow in the truck stop-I asked if I could pray for them! I was so excited when dad said yes-Tho I must say I was scared stiff & have no idea what I said! So anyway, wanted to share my random act with you guys (tho I am doing so anonymously b/c I don't really want credit for it.) I just wanted you to know that sometimes God will press something on your heart that is so totally out of character for you & when you do it you can be blessed beyond belief. I have no idea what impact this had on that young family. But I do know this-God answered all my prayers regarding our vehicles on that trip home and I am sure that He has blessed that family as well.
I have a couple of things...
I know this is old but fun to share...My DD (age 6) used to have long hair and I say that because she had almost 12 inches cut off for Locks of Love but not only did she want to do this she conviced my sister who is 30ish to have her hair cut too and she had just over 10 inches cut off. They both had lots of fun doing it and my daughter has decided to do it again when her hair gets long enough.
Also....With yesterday being Valentine's day....My daughter couldn't decide what she wanted for her valentine's. I bought a couple different kinds and she waited to the last minute to decide which she wanted. I then had a box of valentines with the dip candy sticks unopened and nothing to do with it. I went on my local Freecycle and gave it away to a man who works as a Teachers aid and needed them for his kids in his class. So those valentines will be hitting many people's hands this year :)
Happy Valentine's day!!
Lisa
A friend and I were talking on the phone on Wed. about a banquet we are going to this Sat. I told her another couple was also attending the banquet and had a baby sitter that was staying over night. Now background on the other couple. They are dedicated Christian parents of 4 children ages 6, 4, 2 & 1. Mom stays at home and will do ANYTHING for ANYONE. She heads our MOPS program at church and does NOTHING for herself. Dad is a wonderful, loving hard working father and husband who truly supports and helps his wife. He also does NOTHING for him.
So we decided it would be great to book them a room for the night at a B & B. It is 1/2 way between the banquet and home. They can check in at 2pm and do not have to check out until noon on Sun. I made a card with all the info and anonymously placed it in their mailbox. Sadly she KNEW it was me right away, but they are THRILLED at the thought of napping in the afternoon before the banquet and sleeping ALL NIGHT uninterrupted and LATE too!!!
cool things, i realized we all do things and most of the time don't really give it alot of thought (it just seems to be who we are) my daughter and i have both donated hair (me 22 inces) her 11 and we agreed when she began high school that we won't do more than trim our hair until her senior year (thats 3 more years) then we will do it again. My friend in missouri has been with out power for a week lost her food in the fridge and freezer we decided instead of mailing a big box of stuff to just send her a gift card so 50 dollars went out on the card for her and her grandson. my daughter and i drive across country several times a year to take care of my mom and martha reminded me of the day we stopped for gas in the middle of nowhere missouri and these kids were there begging for money for gas to go home. if they went home or not i may never know but i did put gas in their car and prayed they would head home. we have made it a practice in our family to try to help always if we see something that needs to be done and we learned to do this because of the random acts for us that ment so much to us when we needed them most.
Great contest and i vote for the lady who paid the library fine thats awesome and something close to my heart as the library is wonderful!
Hugs
Laura
Speaking of hair donations, I'm on my fourth donation to Locks of Love. My hair grows very fast and every 2-3 years I can send another 12-15 inches. I've decided until it's too gray to send, they can have it. Amazingly, the few grays that start to come in suddenly disappear after they reach a couple inches. I think it's a sign really so I will continue to grow and cut.
I didn't know anyone else was doing this - I put this on my blog last Monday and challenged my readers also. Here's the link to my random act.
http://marislittlecorner.blogspot.com/2008/02/random-acts-of-kindness.html
Random acts of kindness... I try to incorporate into every week. Giving brings me joy and is my ministry. Gods love to others =) Karrie
Don't even know if I get a vote, but if I do the library fine's being paid off get's my vote. How cool is that for her to just randomly, with purpose of course pay off someone else's debt. Sounds like someone else I know....someone who died on a cross.
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