Posts Tagged ‘happy’
Random Act of Kindness #8 of #26acts
Posted on: May 3, 2013
First, let me apologize for my delay in keeping up with my blog. This time of year is always crazy busy in my job and there are many days where I don’t know if I am coming or going! I am sure many of you can relate. Each time I do another random act of kindness, I want to shout it to the world and celebrate the joy!! But alas, the reality of working full-time, being a mom, and keeping up with a non-stop schedule prevents me from taking the time to elaborate on each and every RAK I complete.
But here I sit, looking through photos on my phone, carving out time to remember, reflect, and rejoice. Yes, rejoice! RAKs make me happy! How can I keep this all happiness to myself?!
So it’s with that spirit that I will be posting several RAKs in a row. I was tempted to just lump them all together in one blog post (after all, that would be MUCH easier and quicker, too!) but I was reminded yesterday that EACH random act of kindness I complete is special and deserving of its own page. A humbling reminder that quick and easy isn’t always best.
RAK #8 happened a few weeks ago, on a bright Sunday afternoon. I was changing purses (I love to carry cute little handbags when the weather gets warmer) and I discovered a gift card for Subway I had received as a birthday gift that had somehow gotten lost in the shuffle of other items in my purse. (In full disclosure, it was wedged at the bottom of my bag in between a sheet of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle stickers, a sticky, red Matchbox car, and a 20% off coupon for Kohl’s that had expired in November. Needless to say, I carry the same purse around all winter and it becomes a traveling toy box as well, lol.)
How exciting! And perfect timing, too, because I was STARVING and the kids were hungry, too. Perfect! I packed the kids in the car, drove to the nearest Subway, and delightfully placed my order. Normally I get something inexpensive like a 6 inch veggie sub, but today I decided to splurge and got a 6 inch chicken teriyaki, a drink, a bag of chips, the works! Oh, how fun to discover a forgotten gift card – it was almost like giving myself a RAK! Ha!
After paying for my meal and my children’s meals, there was still a little bit of money left on the gift card. I decided to bless someone else with the store credit. I wrote a quick note on a napkin and asked the cashier to give it to the person behind me in line.
It wasn’t a lot of money, only a few dollars, but I figured it could still be a blessing anyway. And, in a way, it was like sharing my birthday with someone else all over again! Fun!
As I was grabbing napkins for the kids and putting straws in plastic drink lids, a gentleman about my age approached me with a smile on his face. He pointed to his bag and said simply, “Thanks so much. That was very nice!” Even as I watched him walk out of the door, his smile still lit up the room.
Being kind doesn’t have to cost money and it isn’t always about 100% self-sacrifice. Sometimes I feel guilty when I do something for myself that I could have done for someone else instead. But this RAK reminded me that it’s OK to enjoy the generosity of others (my Subway birthday gift card) because sometimes there will be enough for two blessings instead of just one.
Random Act of Kindness #8 is dedicated to Dylan Hockley, age 6. According to Dylan’s family, “his beaming smile would light up any room and his laugh was the sweetest music.” Seeing the smile of my RAK recipient in Subway was almost like catching a glimpse of Dylan’s smile, too. It simply warmed your heart and made you happy. I hope Dylan’s family will know that his memory, and smile, will live on through the random acts of kindness shown to others.
Be blessed, dear friends, and share your joy! Check back soon because I have more RAKs to post! 🙂
Ever had a day where the weather was so beautiful, so perfect, you wanted to just freeze time forever? We’ve had several days like that around here recently. This past weekend I couldn’t wait to visit one of my favorite places, Maymont Park. Nothing relaxes me more than taking a stroll through that park. Hundreds of acres of rolling hills, farm animals, trails and more. They even have bears and a waterfall nestled on the grounds!
I decided to do another random act of kindness by gathering some activity books and pencils I had been saving from a Target clearance sale a few months ago. I thought again of those precious lives lost at Sandy Hook and one little face popped into my mind. Emilie. A sweet blond headed cherub who shared the same name as my sister, although spelled a different way. I remembered reading about her, how she loved anything to do with art, especially making handmade cards. That, of course, made me think of my own daughter who started her own card making business at the age of 13. Without a moment’s hesitation, I knew today’s RAK would be dedicated to Emilie.
We gathered our things to have a picnic at the park then headed towards Maymont. Traffic was light, the breeze was blowing… I could not have asked for a more beautiful day. Upon our arrival, we found a nice, shady spot to set up our picnic lunch, near the iron statues of children playing on a wooden log.
It was a busy day in the park with many families enjoying the gorgeous weather. As I made my way towards the statue, I knew it would be a perfect place to leave my bucket of activity books as children were always climbing and playing in that spot.
As I made my way back to our picnic, a woman called out to me from across the grass. “Are those books free? The ones you just left right there?” I was already grinning. “Yep! Help yourself! Enjoy!” Immediately two little children came running past me, activity books already in hand. “Look what I found! And it came with a sharpened pencil, too!” (See – those little details DO make a difference!)
All of a sudden it was if a magnet was placed on the side of that statue. Children, parents, even a few grandparents made their way to see what all the fuss was about. We simply sat on our blanket and watched with glee, imagining how Emilie would feel to know her RAK brought so much joy to others. I broke my trance for a moment and captured a photo of a dad flipping through one of the books with his son (see below). Simply precious!
Then, as our picnic was winding down with full bellies and happy hearts, I saw a family of three approaching our blanket. Lo and behold, it was my sister, Emily! I couldn’t believe it! I had no idea she would be at Maymont that day and she was just as surprised to see me. But I treasured the surprise (a.k.a. divine intervention and perfect timing) and spent the next few hours soaking up the rays of sisterhood as we walked the park together with our families.
(Our “babies” are 8 days apart in age. They were so sweet walking through Maymont hand in hand!)
With the acts of terror, violence, and despair we have experienced in only four days since our picnic (Boston marathon bombing, ricin laced letters to government officials, explosion at the Texas plant, even a scrawled hate message on a high school bathroom door in a neighboring school district), it makes me once again dig deeper to share peace and joy. I know my simple acts of kindness may not change the landscape of hatred that fights to cover our nation and our world, but I still believe with all my heart that even one random act of kindness can change a life forever. Who am I to decide which life is changed? I simply act on the whispers of my heart.
This act of kindness is dedicated to Emilie Parker, age 6. May her family find comfort in knowing her legacy lives on in others.
celebrate kindness 