Scatter Kindness Giveaway
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Welcome to those who have clicked your way over after reading my Proverbs 31 Ministries devotion How to Scatter Unusual Kindness. (If you haven’t read it yet, click here to do so.)
In the devotion, I talked about how our acts of kindness can morph into the unusual category to make someone else’s day and yours too! This is the message of my Listen Love Repeat book. I hope you will join us as we study what God’s Word has to say about scattering kindness at Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Studies starting on Monday.
The Giveaway!
GIVEAWAY has ended. Congrats Diane (left message march 28, 2017 at 3:23 pm) – please check your email for more info or email your mailing address to [email protected]. Enjoy!
To help you scatter your own unusual kindness, I’m giving away a Scatter Kindness mug and two copies of my Listen Love Repeat book so you and a friend can join us for our Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study.
To be entered to win, leave a comment telling us the kindest thing someone (perhaps a stranger) has ever done for you, or give us an idea you have done for a friend or stranger to show unusual kindness. (U.S. Addresses only please). I will pick a winner at random tomorrow morning and update this post with the announcement of the winner.
Alright….let’s share some ideas about scattering kindness!
**if you are reading this in email, click here to comment on the blog.**
When my daughter was about 4 I was having a bad day. Fights to get ready meant no time for breakfast and I was running late for work. I stopped at a gas station to get a pop for me, water and a snack for my daughter. The line was incredibly long and when it was finally my time to pay….I forgot my wallet. I am flustered, my daughter is crying and I apologized and left. As I sat in my car crying I prayed “Lird, please turn around this day, it isn’t even 8:00 and I am ready to give up.” There was a knock at my window, a stranger bought our items and gave them to me along with $10 in case I need anything before I get home.” I cried and thanked the man. He simply said “we’ve all been there, it’s my turn to help someone else.”
On Thanksgiving Day (morning) 2016 We had a garage fire that destroyed itself along with the contents in less than 30 min and almost took my husband’s life because he was trapped in it on fire himself. That day while our neighbors should had been in their homes preparing their own Thanksgiving feast for their family and friends they were with us helping and doing the best that they could to console us. We were taken away to the burn unit and our local hospital where my husband was completely de-gloved on both hand and “scrubbed” on half of his face from the burns he suffered while trying to contain and put the fire out. By the grace of God we were allowed to come home that night but my husband loss the use of his hands due to the healing process.. That night our beloved neighbors showed up with Thanksgiving dinner for the both of us and continue to be there for us during his healing and rebuild of our garage.. Our garage fire was a blessing from God you see , it made our faith, trust & love God even stronger and truly understanding when God places the right people in our lives.
Twelve years ago this July my 27 year old son died. He had been a bus driver for a local transit company. Little did I know that was his calling in life, as so many of his riders graced us with testimonials of his kindnesses to them. His birthday was May 9th, and on what would have been his 28th birthday a very good friend of mine rented a bus, just for us. She rode to work with me to honor is life that day! That act of kindness helped May 9th forever be my “Kindness Day!”
When I was in college my car was on its last life. It overheated after the third time I had stopped in two hours to refill the radiator with antifreeze and water in the heat of the summer on the way to a family event several hours away. As my car started smoking I pulled over on the side of the interstate not sure what to do , Asking God please help; no where near me family or any help I could think of. A gentleman about my Dad’s age pulled up behind me in an older truck and asked if he could help. I must have looked at him like he was crazy, for he asked me not to be afraid. He waited for my car to cool and put water and antifreeze in my car, inspected the radiator best he could on the side of the interstate and made sure the car was working well enough I’d be able to make it to my destination. He then gave me two gallons of water to keep so in case I needed it. I thanked him profusely and tried to give him what little money I had. He politely declined saying he had a daughter about my age and hoped if she needed help someone would be kind enough to help her. He then went on his way. I’m pretty sure I cried for for awhile after he left and for several miles down the road as I thankfully drove my car towards my destination.
A year after my husband died, my son and I went on a trip just to be away on the anniversary. We had a lovely trip with a friend and her son, and when we returned to our home, I found that another friend had redecorated my bedroom! I’m talking painting, stenciling a verse on the wall, new lamps, new window treatments—the whole room! It was so wonderful to be in “our” room, but to have a whole new feel!
A few years ago, the vehicle ahead of me at McDonald’s paid for my order. I have returned the favor at various times at different fast-food restaurants.
This is not my own idea but thought this was great because it’s not something most people will think about doing. If I’m out grocery shopping and I’m done or even before I start shopping go and put several grocery carts away in the parking lot that are just left out. Just a nice little gesture. I know it sounds funny like that’s their job but regardless it’s taking time to think about that person and what they do. This is something I can do with my kids to teach and show them how doing small acts of kindness like putting away some left out grocery carts could be a blessing to the person who comes out and does it everyday that they are appreciated
The best unexpected kindness I received was a $5 bill falling off a grocery shelf with a note attached telling me to enjoy my day.
I think sending an unexpected note to someone just letting them know you’re thinking of them or praying for them is a great way to spread kindness. A friend sent me a card once that said she was told to pray for me and it was at a time I really needed it
My neighbor lost her husband last April and has been having a hard time since then. I saw around Christmas that she posted her favorite Christmas song on Facebook. I went on Amazon and found a snow globe with cardinals (which remind her of her husband) and her favorite Christmas song and gave it to her for Christmas.
A couple of years ago, a few days before Christmas my husband suffered a traumatic eye injury that required surgery. In the days we waited for surgery, I found out I was expecting our 6th child. It was a stressful holiday season to say the least. We had to cancel or plans to visit family. My husband was in deep funk from what might be permanent damage to his eyesight. The operation was performed, successfully (praise God!) on December 22. As my husband woke up from anesthesia, the surgeon came in and said, “All of these services are on me. If you get a bill from my office, just call and tell them I said it’s free. I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas.” I was floored by the unexpected, grand gesture of kindness.
Your book has been life changing for me. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us readers.
I paid for the Starbucks order of the car behind me in the drive thru one day in hopes to brighten someone’s day.
One Christmas after I had left my abusive husband with my 3 young children, a friend brought me a used computer and an envelope. I wasn’t to open the envelope until after he left. Inside was $2,000.00 I was floored! We had such a great Christmas ?. I had men from our college campus who packed my U-Haul for me when we were leaving. And my parents paid for that U-Haul, the gas, hotels, and meals to move back to California from Florida for me and my 3 children.
My daughter-in-law’s step-grandmother has Alzheimer’s and when there is a family gather she is usually ignored. Her daughter always complains about her and says she can never get away from her. I feel sorry because all she wants is someone to talk too. So while everyone is having fun I take upon myself to sit and talk with her. It makes her smile and enjoy the gathering.
I do this because I think of how I would be treated. The lady can’t help what as happened t her. It’s a disease that has taken over her mind. She is a very sweet lady and only wants conversation with someone. My daughter-in-law say it breaks her heart that her stepmom treats her this way. She apologies to me for having to do this. I tell her it is no problem, I am not doing it because I have to, I am doing it because it makes her smiles and feel like she still matters. I get the satisfaction knowing that I have make someone’s day better even though she may not remember past that day!
I love that you do this!
Recently i was at a gas station and saw a group of teens help an older lady who was struggling at the pump. When i realized what they were doing i noticed they’d put $5 gas in their car. So i went over and told them what a blessing it was to see them helping the lady, and ask if i could fill up the gas tank. They were shocked and smiled so big and said REALLY? to which i said REALLY you guys made my day, we filled up the tank and all went away smiling and feeling blessed.
One Spring day several years ago I shared with one of the members of the Moms Group I was involved with how very depressed I was and how terrible a parent I felt I was as a result. She got together with other members and showed up the day before Easter with a basket for each of my five kids; including little notes in the eggs: “read a book with Mom” “mom needs a hug” etc. They also brought our Easter dinner. I have bipolar disorder, but that particular depressive episode came to an end shortly after their kindness.
There is a homeless man that is usually outside of our Walmart. Whenever I see him on my way in I pick up a huge sub sandwich, some fruit, chips, a large bottle of water, and some kind of grooming supplies (I try to switch it up to make sure he has some of everything), and recently when it was cold I also picked up a pack of socks, 2 pairs of gloves, and one of those warm fleece blankets for him.
My kids know the drill now and enjoy picking out little extras for him at the store whenever we see him. I love seeing them excited about giving and helping in whatever small ways we can. ??
In college a girlfriend and I had car trouble on our way home during Spring Break. 2 Geneous truckers helped us get the the next truck stop, fixed the car so we could drive it and one of them followed us till we were 60mi from home. He stopped evertone we stopped for fuel. He was willing to literally follow us all the way home, if needed. We still think of him when we tell the full story.
Being touched and encouraged by the lives of others and as time goes by seeing how this has impacted my life. Each sprinkle of giving matters.
Mine is two-fold: I was inspired and touched by my late mom who sent me mail EVERY DAY I was in school at UNC (addressed, sweetly and formally – making her point that I was missed – to (I) Miss Kathleen Frandano (capital ‘i’ off to the side, subtly making her point : ). Knowing how special it feels to get mail while at college (and how unusual it is this day and age, with cellphones, facetime, etc) my friend Ginny and I put together little care packages for the young ladies who were in our teen bible study, now off at their first semester of college, preparing for their first round of finals back in December. We included a note on a ‘hang in there’ card, a peppermint lipbalm, and packets of hot chocolate, Emergen-C and PMS Tea. A sweet treat for an amazingly sweet group of young ladies we have been blessed to get to know!
I can think of several times people have been kind of me. Strangers helping me and then disappearing like angels.
The time I felt most loved by others was when many friends and church members helped us pack to move.
I’m usually the person being kind by bringing home baked treats to work to share, paying for someone’s meal, or simply holding the door for someone. It’s nice when other people show kindness but it also feels really good to be the kind one! Winning your books and being able to share one with someone would be another great way to be kind to a friend!
At Barnes and Noble studying…. completely exhausted but trying to push through….Barnes and Noble cafe employee brings me another Cafe Mocha with pumps of Caramel <3 to me on the house and says, "Keep pushing through. You've got this." :-) Talk about some kindness!!!
When I got to the window at a popular drive-thru restaurant, the employee told me the person ahead of me had paid for my meal! I thought this was so very kind!
My pastor showed me kindness when she bought me some new clothes, giving me a much needed clothing makeover!