12 Days of Kindness

When I woke up this morning I had no idea that I would find myself apart of something much bigger than myself.

There is no doubt in my mind that today ranked among the busiest for the year 2008. I was taking phone calls left and right. Doing this and doing that. I even had to help install an oven. (Yes I said oven)

I had to drive to a warehouse and pick up 20 computer monitors for my building. When I returned to work it was “out with the old and in with the new”. I was so busy I didn’t even have time to eat lunch. By the end of my day I was exhausted. I wanted desperately to go home and dissapear under the covers but I had to pick up some last minute gift wrap so I headed over to Sears.

My quick in and out ended up being a two hour visit. As I was headed home, I checked my cell phone I noticed I had 5 missed calls! As I hit voicemail my phone rang again and my friend Patrick was on the other line. It was 5:30 pm. He was just making sure I didn’t forget about the Toys for Tots event I volunteered for tonight.

As much as I wanted to play it off, I had to be honest and confess that I totally forgot. I drove home as fast as I legally could, dropped off a few things and headed out to my event. Surprisingly I made it on time. When everything was done and just as I was getting ready to head back home my friend Patrick added something else to my plate.

In one of the Toys for Tots vans were toys purchased for a family who was having a financial hardship this holiday season. He said the toys were for four girls and needed to be wrapped by 8:30 am the following morning. Having spent a full day in the office I could tell he needed help and wanted to catch up on some sleep himself. I told him give me the keys to the van and I’ll take care of it.

When I got home, I opened the van and looked inside. There were toys everywhere!! I saw three rolls of wrapping paper and NO scotch tape! It was at this moment that I started stressing out and realized what I really got myself into. I hadn’t even had dinner and I had a van full of toys to wrap. I immediately called my good friend who lives nearby. She just had surgery for skin cancer the day prior.

I said “It’s me! I’m coming over to see you and I need lots of tape.”

Her husband opened the door and all I could mumble out was “Help Me!!”.

He walked to the van, scratched his head and said bring the toys inside. Once inside, my friend made her way downstairs and my mouth practically fell to the ground. She had bandages all around her head and her face was swollen. She walked in to her garage and brought in a box of wrapping supplies. A huge box that was full of everything. She was a crafter!!

That evening, the three of us stayed awake till midnight wrapping presents. My friend hurt so bad that she would take breaks and lay on the couch. When she couldn’t wrap gifts she wrote the names of the girls on the gift tags. I was in complete awe of her and openly expressed my appreciation. She is remarkable and found joy in wrapping presents for a unexpecting family while putting up with immense physical pain.

I didn’t want to take any chances of not waking up on time the following morning so I dropped off the van at 1 am. I didn’t get any sleep that night. I was too excited thinking about the family that was going to be receiving all the toys we just wrapped.

I could have easily said “No Thanks” to my friend Patrick – but I didn’t.

Most people would have said I need to go to bed or I need to eat but I took on the challenge. All I could think about were the four little girls.

There is more to this story and the next morning I found myself weaved into one of God’s delightful plans. Today, I gave up my own comforts for another family.

I was miserably tired, extremely hungry but amidst everything functioned with happiness.

God gave me the strength I needed.

Often we go about their day concerned with only one agenda in life: our own. I should know – I have been in such a whirl wind lately I forget to pay attention to anyone except those I deem necessary.

Tonight I was invited to attend a holiday function with my children. When we arrived I noticed all the other families and couldn’t help but wonder how their day had been. We almost stayed home, but I decided to venture out into the lovely rain storm.

While I was standing in line to check in at the party, my thoughts continued and my mind started to ask weird questions:

How is it you can sit inches away from another passenger on an airplane and not say a word to each other for the entire three hour flight?

Why do we always seem to avoid making a phone call that might obligate you to say “Hello, how are you doing today” but instead send a text message because we are just “too busy” to have a friendly conversation?

How come everyone looks so serious and angry when standing in line at the grocery store?

Why do you walk by people and look the other way so you can avoid eye contact?

As the thoughts continued, it dawned on me that I was guilty of some of my own questions! I decided I was going to be bold and – once again – do something I  normally would not.

While standing in line, I transformed into a vivid communicator. I began asking questions to the folks in front of me and to the ones behind me. I openly shared my day with them and in return quite a few moms shared their busy day’s too.

The more I opened up, the more reponses I recieved. I could sense the calmness taking place in everyone I greeted. It was rewarding to hold a sincere conversation with a complete stranger yet have so much to talk about. All I had to do was smile and someone smiled back at me.

Rather than let my true exhaustion show on the outside I found it in myself to take the first step and actually smile and say “Hello”.

Don’t be afraid to open up and make a new friend.  In giving more of myself tonight my own frustrations seemed to have vanished away.

The only question I have now is ” Where did my busy agenda go? “

Today I learned a valuable lesson on “every day” self-sacrifice.

I’m one of those individuals who likes to schedule certain appointments far in advance to make sure the service I want is planned and ready when I want it.  Sometimes I schedule so far in advance I forget I have an appointment until the night prior.

I recieved a phone call last night from a place I wait months to recieve a provided service. 

“We look forward to seeing you at 6 pm on Tuesday evening.”

Shortly after that call one of my good friends called me to invite me to her house on the same night for a small holiday gathering.

“Can’t make it.  Sorry.  I have this appointment that I can’t miss tomarrow night. I have been waiting all month and tomarrow is the night! You understand, right”

She didn’t say much and we hung up with few words said.

While I was at work today, something started to tug at my heart strings. I couldn’t believe I forgot that this is the week my friend is going to have facial surgury to remove skin cancer. I felt lower than low at work and was glad no one was around. She said her recovery would take two weeks, putting her out for Christmas, so this was her last chance to have fun with her husband and children. I was special enough to have been invited to share a festive evening with her family, but the first words that came out of my mouth were “I already have something planned”.

I called and cancelled my appointment immediately.

I plan on writing my friend a note tonight with words of encouragment. I can’t imagine what she is going through right now, but I can be a friend.

God always has a way to fit everything into place. He is always looking out for your best interests.

Just a few minutes ago I recieved a phone call saying I could come in at 2 pm for that appointment today because there had been a cancellation. My friend’s party is at 6. It turns out I don’t get to miss a thing! Ironically, you have to give up something to recieve something.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!! I can’t believe all the rain we recieved in San Diego today! It was dreadfully cold and I would have much prefered to stay in the warmth of my cozy bed! It was early morning and I had to head out to work. I stood inside my house watching the massive raindrops fall from the sky knowing they soon would be covering my entire body. Finally, I had to leave the house or I was going to be late!

I made a quick dash for my car but still ended up covered in rain drops. As I drove to work I thought to myself how on earth can I complete my act of kindness today!

My entire morning was a sequence of mad dashes. Dashing to the post office to mail out a Christmas gift on time. Dashing to the office next door to have some important papers signed. Soon my dashes became sprints. I was running all over the place and I was cold and miserable!

Then it happened! Jesus took over the wheel! On my way home for lunch I passed the grocery store and looked at all the cars in the parking lot. Who would shop for groceries on a day like today? I didn’t need anything from the store but for some reason I ended up driving into the parking lot and found a spot to park. I got out of my car and started running.

I don’t know why I was running but I was running in the pouring down rain to the grocery store and then….I saw them.

A mother with a grocery cart full of food and her two little girls. She was looking into the parking lot to find her car. Her little girls were safe in the shopping cart out of the rain. I could tell they were not looking forward to getting completely soaked in the torrential downpour that was taking place before their very eyes.

I walked up to the Mom and said “Would you like me to watch your kids while you get your car?”

She looked surprised but said yes.

So Mom made a dash into the parking lot and I did my best to make the girls feel secure and tell them Mommy was coming back.

As I was zipping up little coats Mom pulled up in front with the car. She grabbed one of her girls and I grabbed the other.

Everyone was in their car seat safe and sound. I received a “thank you”, said your welcome and ventured out once again into the pouring rain – but this time it was different.

I wasn’t cold and I didn’t care that my clothes felt like they just came out of the washing machine.

I helped keep two little girls warm, and in doing so they warmed my heart.

While eating my lunch I casually glanced around the restaurant and something caught my eye. I saw a family of five sitting together on a Sunday afternoon enjoying a good lunch. The children at the table were young and the oldest child was probably no more than eight years old.

I watched the family as they had conversation with each other and the children squirmed around in their chairs. After that, something happened inside me that I can’t explain: I felt the need to buy lunch for them.

As I spent more time thinking about my plan, I began to feel an overwhelming sense of excitement. I thought to myself what a wonderful way to pass on a message of love. I knew deep in my heart the children sitting at the table would be taught a valuable lesson.

I cheerfully grabbed my check and found my waitress. As I approached her, I told her I wanted to secretly buy the lunch for the family of five. She looked at me and smiled. I said God is telling me to do this. This family is to be blessed and I want it to be an anonymous give of kindness.

The lady at the cashier smiled again and said my karma will come back to me someday but it did at that very moment. I was so overwhelmed with joy inside I had to contain the tears. After paying the bill I headed out the door of the restaurant and walked to my car. I sat inside for a few minutes watching inside. Finally I decided to drive off but as I did I noticed the waitress move toward the table. It was all I needed to see because God was doing the rest. My heart was pounding with excitement as I drove off.

I’ll never know what my act of kindness meant to the family that day but I know it has changed my life. I can only pray they took away something precious and share the same love with another in need as I did that Sunday.

Please Enjoy this series of posts, written by a member of our Kroc Church congregation who chooses to remain anonymous.

For the past two Sundays, I’ve sat in church and on numerous occasions heard the following words spoken from my congregational leaders: “Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All.”  They are the inspiration behind a concept called “Advent Conspiracy”. Christmas is supposed to be the best time of year, right? But what are you really celebrating? I am celebrating Jesus.

Something phenomenal took place in my ordinary life today. God placed on my heart a detailed and colorful assignment. As I was headed home, I decided I would stop by Berean and look around at all the books and do some holiday shopping. When I arrived, I was greeted by another shopper who said the store was opening in fifteen minutes. Feeling a little hungry, I decided I would grab a quick bite to eat. I saw McDonald’s near by and without deliberation decided to go and grab a cheeseburger! I got in my car and headed over but as I did, I noticed a Greek restaurant that looked appealing. Without hesitation, I decided I would try something new. I happened to be alone so time was not of concern.

It’s a funny thing how God surprises you in those out of the blue moments. I have been called to Twelve Days of Kindness. Today is Dec 14th and there are exactly 12 days remaining till Christmas. I can’t explain how God put this into action or why He chose “ME” but I know I have to do this. For the next 12 days I have been asked to do something kind for someone I don’t know. I am to challenge myself and do things I normally would not do.

God says I can choose to be anonymous or I can openly share my identity. I shall wake up everyday and pray that my eyes and heart are open to those in need. I am to put aside my busy and hectic life but instead brighten another’s day with a small random act of kindness.

As each day passes I am to challenge myself to find a new and different way to provide help to someone in need. What I have done for one will not be the same for another. At the end of each day, I am to write and share my act of kindness. It is my prayer and sincere belief that God has a wonderful message in all of this.

I choose to remain anonymous to my readers in hopes they will find connection to my stories rather than connection with who I am. I attend Kroc Church regularly and I have my own struggles and challenges just like everyone else but this Christmas my desire is be like Jesus and “Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All”.