“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. ”
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
(1929-1968); Minister, Civil Rights Activist
This post is so true. You don't have to be super smart, wealthy, gorgeous, talented, super connected, have tons of spare time, or anything else to "serve". It also doesn't need to be a huge act to make a difference. Often it is the little acts of kindness that have the greatest impact on another human being. Think about how great this world would be, if everyone took a little time in their week to help someone else.
I challenge you this week, to do a little act of kindness, to "serve" someone else. I'd love for you to post it here.
- It could be helping a mom through a door with her stroller and packages,
- it could be helping an elderly person get some groceries into their apartment,
- it could be letting someone in front of you while you are driving,
- it could be asking a new mom if you could take care of the baby for an hour or two so she could sleep or run some errands,
- it could be visiting with a neighbour who doesn't have much company,
- it could be a smile to someone who looks like they are having a very bad day,
- it could be buying a homeless person some lunch,
- it could be being friendly to the harried cashier at the grocery store,
- it could be paying for the coffee of the person in lineup before or after you at Tim Hortons,
- it could be taking someone shopping who isn't able to get around on their own,
- it could be buying a few back to school supplies for a family that is struggling to make ends meet,
- it could be baking cookies for the construction workers tearing up your street
...the list goes on and on.
Let's make someone a little bit happier this week!
Michele
Something nice for a complete stranger, why is that something that we just don't do anymore? Random acts of kindness is the true meaning of "Paying It Forward."
During this past weekend I not only bared witness to such a wonder but also participated in one. I believe it was Friday night and I was out and about with friends, we went to the local beach an were walking the boardwalk. During this time of year it is so busy and there are just SO many people. These people come from all walks of life and all surroundings and backgrounds.
Ahead of us we saw a large crowd of people whom were congregating around a bronze soldier. At first you look at this person and you think, "Wow, he must be hot. But then as you stood there you realized that the amount of dedication and drive that he must have, is not only unreal but also truly that of an American hero." He was a twenty something young man standing in full ACU's on a plastic milk crate. He was painted bronze from head to toe clothes skin crate and all. He also was at attention, saluting, and holding an American flag nearly as big as him. He didn't move unless someone would give a bit of money and then he would give them a card with a message. Standing there before him we felt so compelled to give of what we each had. One of us is active duty and stood before him and saluted. What a wonderful site solider to solider, everyone stopped and looked. The Bronze Man moved, stepped down and shook my friends hand and elbow tapped each of us. He told us his story and why he was doing what he was doing.
I thanked him and told him that I appreciate all that he is and has done for our soldiers, our country, and our day.
GRATITUDE, is something that no one can see nor touch but is one of the most amazing gifts to give to someone,like love its neither seen nor taken, it is freely give and always remembered.
Posted by: Cassey | July 26, 2010 at 06:37 PM
In the midst of aiding my father in his daily cancer treatments...and being absolutely blown away by the number of people at the Surrey cancer centre on a daily basis, I decided to make the most of my hours there by engaging at least one stranger a day in a meaningful conversation.
It has never come easy for me to do this, being introverted, but even though it is a time of great fear in people's lives, in speaking with the people battling daily, there is hope, there is recognition that life is a gift, and there are SMILES.
So today, I told a smiling bald woman that she had a beautiful smile, because she smiled with her entire face and soul.
I also asked a grandmotherly type, sitting across from my father in chemo, how many weeks she had been coming. Weeks? She said - she's come every 2 weeks for 2.5 years! And it didn't bother her a bit....she felt joy that her son in Toronto called her every other day to see if she was still alive! And she laughed.
So down in the radiation area, as my Dad was called, I thought I would cast a little humour into an otherwise somewhat somber waiting room, and asked if he would take a bag of microwave popcorn in with him as I was hungry.
Well, there wasn't a frown left in the room.
Life is definitely a gift - and if we give of ourselves with our time, our voice or our ear, we often get back much more that we realize.
Posted by: Kelly K | July 26, 2010 at 09:25 PM
Wow, the previous posts are just so insightful and wonderful. My little act of kindness this week involved offering to watch a friend's boys while she had to go to a doctor's appointment. My friend and her husband have never left their boys with babysitters and family are just not close enough (physically). They have always juggled it between just the two of them to watch the boys - which is not always easy. I am so blessed to have 2 sets of grandparents who will watch my girls at the drop of a hat (literally). I know how busy my girlfriend's husband is this week with meetings and so I offered to watch the boys for a few hours. Her husband already emailed to thank me. How sweet. I truly believe it takes a village to raise a child. :)
Posted by: gloria | July 27, 2010 at 09:51 AM
A woman ahead of me in the grocery lineup on Sunday, found herself short of cash to complete her purchase. She started to go through her few purchases to see what she could eliminate to make up the difference. It was clear that she was having a hard time financially. I had what she needed, so I quietly handed it to the clerk. The woman was so grateful for so little and couldn't stop thanking me. I told her that it was my pleasure and that someday when she was in a better position, could she please pay it forward to someone else in need?
Posted by: kerry | July 27, 2010 at 11:20 AM
Thank you all for sharing....my day has been deeply impacted just by reading your entries!
This week I took my brand new niece, Cynthia, for the day. She is 1 month old and absolutely gorgeous! I remember how absolutely exhausted and overwhelmed I felt when my children were brand new from God, so I gifted my brother and his partner a day to themselves! They loaded me up with expressed milk, diapers and receiving blankets, and we headed out for the day. I visited friends, showed her off to anyone and everyone who would graciously put up with my boasting LOL! By the time I returned her to 'mom & dad', I was pretty convinced that it was actually I who got the better end of the deal :-)
Posted by: Kate | July 28, 2010 at 09:14 AM
These are all so wonderful !
Posted by: Kelly | July 28, 2010 at 08:53 PM
These are so great! I have tears in my eyes. It is so great to witness these small/big acts of kindness and the difference they make in someone's life.
I told my daughters about this post, and they decided to make chocolate chip cookies for our new neighbours who moved in two days ago. They are busy unpacking and welcomed the sugar!
I just sent a card to an old friend whose mom is going thru radiation right now. Just to let her know that I was thinking of her and praying for them all.
Posted by: Michele | July 28, 2010 at 10:43 PM
Unfortunately, I lost my father-in-law last night to his fight with cancer.... However, my one thought today, was to continue with my plan to personally deliver flowers to another family that is going through a very difficult time. Without knowing what had happened with me - the hugs I got for my thoughts of them, were so warm and welcome, I wanted to cry. Life is so precious and should never be taken for granted. Spend as much time as you can with those you love while you still can!
Posted by: KellyL | July 29, 2010 at 06:28 PM
Congratulations to Gloria for winning our random draw for a $25 scrapbooking gift from PE! And thank you to all of you who shared your stories here. It is kindness like this that truly makes a difference in our world. xoxoxo
Posted by: Kate | August 03, 2010 at 10:03 AM
I too have tears, reading these stories! It is easy to give, one just needs to have open eyes to see the opportunities that are put right before our faces! Believe me, its the giver who is the blessed one, .. and the receiver is the benefactor!! Thanks for the reminder to keep my eyes open!!
Posted by: Elfrieda | August 05, 2010 at 06:20 PM
Ok well, I have 2 things I guess. I work at a Pub in Pitt Meadows, and living in Maple Ridge, I use the public transit quite abit. That being said, I normally start heading to work about the same time as the kids get out of school, so all the buses are HORRIFICALLY crowded. We all know how some youth don't quite know/understand/care about the rules of the bus. The seats in the front are PRIORITY seating. Which means if an elderly person, mother with a baby or someone with a disability boards the bus you MOVE. So one day I am on the bus with a bunch of teenagers, and an elderly lady with a cane gets on the bus. She is looking for a place to sit down, and all the seats in the front have kids in them. The driver couldn't see anything, so he didn't say anything. No one even paid attention to this poor little old lady! I couldn't believe it! I got up and gave her my seat. Then moved the front of the bus, standing. When I pulled the cord to get off at my stop, I walked past that little old lady again. She took my hand as I walked by, and with a single tear in her eye she said thankyou. Just that. Made it worth it.
Second, is I work the Friday Lunch Buffet every week at work, setting up, carving and taking it down. There was this one Friday that I had 2 couples come in, both with someone in wheel chairs. I immediately held the door for them and moved chairs and such so it was easier for them to maneuver. A Woman who had been comming to the pub for the last 20 years, was watching me do this. She was also watching me be happy, and bubbly at the carving station, and talking to people. She chatted me up alittle. I told her about what I wanted to do eventually with my boyfriend, my dream business. She and her Hubby finished their lunch and went to pay the bill. As she was on her way out the door, she handed me a white piece of paper folded in half. I was confused, and opened it. "Thankyou for being Happy and Brightening My Day. Here is alittle something for your Bed and Breakfast of the future..." and a 20 dollar bill fell into the palm of my hand.
I never knew how much little things you do for people, no matter how tiny, have such a BIG effect. Blows my mind.
Posted by: Rachel | October 06, 2010 at 02:17 PM