Beyond Valentine’s Day
We made it through Valentine’s Day! Every year I have mixed feelings about Valentine’s day. Of course I want to feel special and I think it’s important to make my hubby and family members feel special but I am not really into the whole grand gesture type of Valentine’s day event. It’s so much pressure. And then there’s this problem, if Valentine’s day is meant only for our romantic interests what about those of us that don’t have a significant other…do they always have to feel left out? I would hope not. Of course, I celebrated the ones I love with a little gift from my heart to theirs, but I feel like we should be striving to make our friends and loved ones feel special everyday. That’s why I like February 17th, Random Acts of Kindness Day!
Working on kindness
This month we’ve been concentrating on being kind and loving in my house and in my Sunday School class too! Thinking about how, as followers of Christ, we are asked to loved others. How we are even called to show love and kindness those around us that are not too lovable. Jesus said, Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. (John 13:35) We’ve been looking at …Just what does that mean? How are we called to be different? and What does that look like?
Today in Sunday School, we learned ways to be kind and loving, even to those people that are like sandpaper. The one’s that are “scratchy”, and as they rub us the wrong way, sometimes they leave marks. It’s only natural that we may want to leave some marks ourselves…I mean maybe they’ll understand how it feels right? Nope. Did you know, sometimes it’s hard following Jesus; like when He says Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44) ….Ugh…that’s right, as followers of Christ we get to act differently than the world.
Last week we talked about how kindness has a domino effect! They loved watching them fall and see how one act of kindness can affect so many people. And they remembered that lesson this week! Score! Then we made kindness stickers, they got to choose a saying from my list of kindness quotes or use one of their own. They could decorate the sticker any way they wanted, their assignment was to take it home and stick it somewhere, where it would remind them what Jesus says about being kind. Maybe on a folder or water bottle, something along those lines…as long as mom said it was ok, I suggested maybe the walls weren’t a good idea. And lastly, we talked about ways that we could show kindness to others; to both people we know and also to people we don’t know It was a good day!
The Challenge
Tomorrow, February 17th, is Random Acts Of Kindness Day, I challenged them, to complete at least one random act of kindness; to do something nice for someone they know or even someone they didn’t know. I asked them to do something kind just because; expecting nothing in return. They were excited about the challenge, I can’t wait to hear their stories next week.
May I suggest
Wearing one of my shirts that promotes kindness is a great idea! I’ve found it helps me to remember to act accordingly. When I’m a big walking billboard sharing how we should be kind in today’s world, it’s a big reminder to watch my own behavior!
Our most recent “Be Kind” women’s shirt is shown to the left. Click here to take a look at our kindness collection. You don’t have to wait until it’s Random Acts of Kindness day to wear it. I’ll have to write about the experiences I’ve had while wearing a kindness shirt one day, but you can just trust me, it works everyday!
What Else Can I Do?
Since it’s sometimes hard to think of what you can do, especially at the last minute in this rushed world so I compiled a list of some ideas. Click Here to take a look and find something that works for you. Some of them cost money, some of them cost nothing, and some of them cost some time, I hope you will choose one or two and implement them. Whether you’re a follower of Christ or not YOU have the power to change someone’s life, just by one random act of kindness, even if it’s only for a quick minute. You may never know how God will use you in this, and that’s ok, because we are just here to plant the seeds of God’s love and he will make sure they are watered.
So go…and be the first domino! xoxo