Sunday, December 27, 2009

Random Acts of Kindness

While preparing for this holiday season I had lots of thinking time. We made several homemade presents. Including a couple fleece no sew blankets , coasters made with Christmas napkins (this tutorial even has a video), vanilla extract, braided fleece dog toys, and several tourtiere pies. While crafting and cooking I thought about what things I may want to do differently in the new year. Year after year there are always the most common goals I set: loose a few pounds, get better organized, etc.... but this year my #1 goal is to practice Random Acts of Kindness more often! Then I thought, heck with the new year! Why not start now? So the weekend before Christmas I packaged up a couple plates of leftover ham dinner, some desserts, and a fresh tourtiere pie and dropped it by the old farmer's house a couple miles down the road. Then I woke up Christmas morning and cooked them up another meal and delivered it just before noon.
Why? Because they have no children, no local family, and they both have significant medical problems.
We met them about a year ago when I randomly stopped by the farm to see if he had a duck I could buy. We've been friends ever since. He is a proud man who asks little of others but always goes above and beyond to help others. Every time I see him he tells me a story and I listen. You never realize what you'll learn from others when you first meet them. Nor do I think others realize what how they teach others just by example. So from here on out I plan to bake & deliver a meal or at very least bread or a dessert every week. Why?
~It is the right thing to do.
~They have no family and my grandparents have all passed.
~They can use the help and we have the ability to help.
~It is a valuable lesson for our children, they too learn by example!

What are your goals for the New Year? I challenge you to add practicing more Random Acts of Kindness to your list!

I will end this post with a few quotes to think about:

~Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you-not because they are nice to you, but because you are. ~Author Unknown

~Beginning today,treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of reward. Your life will never be the same again. ~Og Mandino

~ Never doubt that a small group of commited people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that truly has. ~Margaret Mead

14 comments:

Joanna@BooneDocksWilcox said...

I love the spirit of Christmas when it's about giving to those in need.

Yes, I too want to practice random acts of kindness throughout the year.

Judy T said...

What a lovely idea! I'd love to commit more random acts of kindness this year as well.
We have yet to meet some of our neighbors- maybe it's time to make a delivery or two.
Judy

Mare said...

I LOVED your post. I try to live my life this way, each and every day...do one little thing that can make a difference, no matter how small...Your good cooking will inject more lovin into those folks than any hug could do! Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

YD, sometimes with ♥June and ♥Angel Samantha said...

Great idea! Random Acts of Kindness is something that this crazy world is getting lack of.
It does make a difference in someone's life.

Terria said...

What a thoughtful deed, your neighbors are lucky to have you, and I love your idea of practicing random acts of kindness all year.

katiegirl said...

That's so nice of you to do that for them. I'm sure they really appreciate it!

John Going Gently said...

nice idea....
random acts of kindness keeps the world revolving!!!

YD, sometimes with ♥June and ♥Angel Samantha said...

Hey Country Girl, I was "revisiting" your post on the pea trellis and I was wondering if you can tell me more about the process of making it(where you got the materials from, the netting part).
You can email me when you get a chance at ysdavis at hotmail dot com
Thank you.

YD

Sarah said...

That is a great idea and goal for the coming year! I love it!

Anonymous said...

Awesome thing you have done and are doing... It is something i would like to practice as well.. you have truly inspired us....\

jbmaine

Mama of 4 Blessings said...

You are such a sweetie K;) I hope that you have a great New Year! I have created a new blog, one that is not private;) Hope to keep in touch again. Thanks for the inspiration! See ya next year;)

Carol............. said...

I love that picture and your post!

Happy New year!

Country Girl said...

YD,Regarding the pea trellis, I cut down a few small trees and stapled on the netting which I picked the netting up for pennies at a lawn sale but you can get it at your local home depot or lowes store. I think it is deer netting. I used rope and steaks to straighten it out. Hope this helps!

Anonymous said...

This is something to remember. I need to be more mindful about it, particularly remembering to be more charitable in thought to those who may not be so kind to me, as the quote you posted says. While not wanting to be a pushover, I don't need to turn into a grouch about it or wish the person ill. Plus, doing so only would ruin my own day.... in short, yes! I'd like to commit to more random acts/thoughts as well.