Random Acts of Kindness

The only way to beat evil is with love. In light of the horror of the Boston Marathon finish line, I challenge you add light to this dark world by sowing seeds of love. You might know it as performing a random act of kindness.

One of my favorite things to do is to pay for the food of the car behind me when I'm in a drive-through. I've gotten so excited about it, I have driven off without my food. I always return an item to the shelf or give it to a staff member to return  if I change my mind about a purchase. I always return my shopping cart and sometimes stray carts as well.

When I'm shopping I put clothing which has fallen on the floor back on the hangers. No one knows, but I get a rush knowing I made some clerk's day a little easier. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

Peter said: "I make the Master proud of me by being a good citizen. I respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, I might cure the ignorance of the fools who think I'm a danger to society. I exercise my freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. I treat everyone I meet with dignity. I love my spiritual family, revere God, and respect the government. 1 Peter 2:13-17 (The Message)

Leave me a message here or on Facebook and let me know if you found a way to be randomly kind. I promise it will bring you joy.

Here are some other suggestions which I found at www.daretobeanangel.com:

	Compliment a stranger sincerely
	Write a thank you note to someone
	Look for something around you that can be fixed up, picked up, or attended ie, put shopping carts up, pick up some trash laying around, pick up something that has fallen over
	Give a lottery ticket to a stranger
	Send handmade cards or a letter to someone you care for
	Write a note to management or someone themself who has treated you nice while doing their job (waiter, clerk, sales person...ect)
	when you go somewhere to get or do something, ask someone around you if you can pick up, drop off or do something for them while you do
	Cut coupons out and leave them at the grocer register for others
	Cut an article out of the newspaper that would interest a friend and mail it to them.
	Leave have a nice day stickers at a front desk
	Put together a writing kit with stationery, envelopes and stamps, pen and give to hospital/nursing home
	Put a comment on someone's webpage that you really like...... let them know you enjoy it
	Send a card to someone in the military overseas
	Start a conversation up with a co-worker that you don't know
	Leave something cheery or nice for all your co-workers (in spring bag of seeds, fun post its, fun office supplies
	Put change in a row of vending machines
	Visit a nursing home. Spend time visiting with someone who doesn't get visitors
	Put something you no longer need on Craig's list free spot for your area
	Leave something for someone at an area where it most might be used, (lighter near smoking area, book in reading area, umbrella near door on rainy day)
	Leave a book you have already finished somewhere for someone else to read.
	Drop off a toy or game at a hospital
	Drop off a toy or game at a homeless shelter.
	At post office leave some extra stamps at the stamp machine.
	Send a picture you have taken which includes a friend and send it to them with a note remembering when it was taken
	Buy a phone card and give to a homeless shelter for them to give to someone.
	Open the phone book, pick a name, and send them something (movie tickets, thank you card, you are appreciated card, book, etc.) anonymously.
	Take flowers to a hospital ward and give them to someone who hasn't had any visitors.
	Take some cake, chocolates, flowers etc. to the neighbors, or a senior citizen nearby
	Send someone a small gift anonymously
	Make a cd of your favorite songs and give to a friend
	Donate one hour of your time if you offer a service for a living, or one product, or one seminar, or one class, or just one of whatever it is that you do as a gift to someone else.
	Invite someone who is alone over for dinner.
	Share a comic strip or something funny with someone else.
	Leave a chocolate for a co-worker.
	write a note, send a e-greeting "just to say hello" to someone who might need a pick me up
	Visit hospitals with smiles, treats and friendly conversation for patients.
	Send a thank you to the employees at a hospital, or anywhere else that a cheerful thank might add a smile
	Put a quarter in a parking meter that has expired
	Write a thank-you note to a person from your past who has made a difference in your life.
	Drop off a plant, flowers or apple pie at a public service orginization or your neighbors house.
	Send someone an animated greeting card on the internet.
	Write a note to the boss of someone who has helped you, praising the employee.
	Drop off teddy bear to police department to give to traumitized children
	Drop a few coins in an area where children play, where they can easily find them.
	Copy a favorite recipie and give it to someone
	Buy a copy of your favorite book and donate it to your local library or hospital
	Write letters of appreciation to groups who are helping the community, the environment, etc.
	Send a card to a friend or relative you haven't seen for some time. Include a photo of yourself and/or your family.
	Make a point of introducing yourself to someone you see all of the time but never say hello to.
	Send an anonymous scratch card, lottery or theatre ticket to someone you know - or a gift voucher, a funny card, a chocolate bar, or whatever you feel they would enjoy
	If you know someone who is having a hard time financially, pop a $5, $10 or $20 note in an envelope, disguise your writing or type the envelope, and post it to them.
	Offer to baby sit
	Donate clothes to goodwill
	Put change in a charity change bottle
	Bring cookies or some snack to work for office
	Drop off cookies at a random establishment
	Tape some change to a payphone with a card saying it is for whoever needs it
	Write anonymous, loving post-its for strangers to find.

I DID IT ALL BY MYSELF!

My 4, 6 and 8-year-old granddaughters participated in the Redbud Fun Run in Oklahoma City this past weekend. My daughter signed them up intending to run together as a family. The 6 and 8-year-olds quickly tossed the plan aside to race with school friends. There weren’t too many 4-year- olds in the race, so Mom and Baby Cakes were content to run together.

At the starting gun they took off running. Baby Cakes ran as hard and fast as her little legs would propel her. It wasn’t long before she looked at her mother and said, “Mommy, I’m tired. I can’t do this anymore.”

“Yes, you can. Slow down a little bit,” Mom said as she wiped the pleading face. “Take a sip of water and catch your breath. Can you fast walk?”
“No, Mommy, it’s too hard. My feet hurt. I can’t do it.” Tears welled up in her eyes.
 “I’ll carry you for a while,” Mom said. Baby Cakes clasped her arms around her mother’s neck and held on tight. Mom ran for the two of them until the added weight forced her to a walk.
“Baby, can you walk for a while?”
“I don’t know. I’ll try, but it’s hard.”
“I know, but you can do it. I’ll be right here. I’ll hold your hand.”

And so they continued the race. At times they jogged or walked together. Flushed chubby cheeks and panting tongue reflected Baby Cakes’ effort, so Mom carried her until she could walk again.

 As they approached the finish line, Baby Cakes’ demeanor changed completely. First she heard the encouraging crowd and picked up her pace. Then she spotted her sisters’ and grandparents’ cheering her on. She broke into a big smile and charged the finish line yelling, “I did it! I did it! I did it all by myself!” She accepted their hugs and congratulations. Her mother stood by smiling and never offered any correction.

I love that story. Sweet Baby Cakes. There was no deceit in her. She discounted the times her mother carried her, held her hand, and encouraged her. In her mind she didn’t quit, therefore she completed the race “all by myself.”

How often have I been through tough times and called out to God for help. I’ve whined and cried and told Him I couldn’t go on. He carried me. He set me on my feet to continue the race assuring me He would never leave me nor forsake me*. He held my hand and encouraged me. Sometimes the encouragement came through His Word. Sometimes it came through a friend. I received them all and keep plodding along with my tongue hanging out. The cheering crowd bolstered my spirits as I crossed the finish line. Have I discounted Him at the finish line? Did I boast, “I did it all by myself?” Sometimes I did, but most of the time I give him the praise and glory for His unswerving grace. 

Lord, thank you for the mercy and grace to finish this race.
*"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God. He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6.

I did it all by myself!

Cracked Pot!

As you know from previous posts in “Life of Grace,” I’ve made poor choices in my life. I’ve suffered the consequences of those choices. With massive doses of God’s grace, I’ve survived.  In the years I have left I hope to shine His light on the dark waters of life to help others navigate.

These days I make better choices, but I’m not perfect and often feel unworthy. This passage written by the great Apostle Paul comforts me. He too, felt unworthy. I’m in good company.

4 ^1-2 Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.
^3-4 If our Message is obscure to anyone, it’s not because we’re holding back in any way. No, it’s because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won’t have to bother believing a Truth they can’t see. They’re stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we’ll ever get.
^5-6 Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.
^7-12 If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken (emphasis added).What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!
^13-15 We’re not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, “I believed it, so I said it,” we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God’s glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!
^16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4, The Message Bible.

On a lighter note. The primer I use under my base makeup is called, “Spackle.” Appropriate for a cracked pot don’t you think?