The Perfect Surprise

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12

See, even the Bible says kindness is important!!!   I think we are onto something here ;)

I have been taking a class at my church for the past 7 weeks, and it was recently brought up how easy it is to get caught up in the cruelty of our society today.  Normally, we hear about and see the bad things far more than the good things.  We often forget to "love thy neighbor" and rather we just "love thy self" (yes, I made that part up).  But it's true, right?  We go through our everyday lives thinking, without even realizing it, about how we are going to get ahead in our own lives.  How we can make more money, lose that extra 5 pounds, buy a new car, get that promotion.  There is always SOMETHING.  And once you do accomplish that goal, you move on to the next one because the one is never enough.  You may get the raise you've been waiting on and it may give you a sense of temporary satisfaction, but for how long? And there you are, back to the feeling of emptiness.  Focusing on helping others and doing acts of kindess fills you up in a different sort of way, that usually gives you a different end result - or so I have learned.

Today's Starfish

I went to dinner with my friend John (here's your shoutout!!!) tonight to my favorite restaurant, Granite City.  Before I went to dinner, I knew what I wanted to do for my Starfish today and I just hoped it would work out like I wanted!  As we were eating our meal, John and I kept our eyes peeled for a table of two to receive my kindness for the day.  Finally, we spotted an older couple (probably in their mid 70s) on the other side of the restaurant.  When our server came to offer us dessert, I politely declined but ordered a delicious dessert for the table across the room.  I wanted it to be anonymous and since we were on the other side of the room, I knew they wouldn't know it was from me.  We did stay til the couple received their treat and it just filled my heart to see them enjoying the gigantic cookie and ice cream together.  It made me think of my own grandparents and how tickled they would be if they received a free dessert from some stranger at a restaurant. 

A Penny for Your Thoughts

"If someone were to pay you ten cents for every kind word you ever spoke and collect five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?"

-Nonpareil

Doing something nice for someone else doesn't mean you have to do something so grand that it costs you a lot of money (or any money at all).  Sure, it would be nice to pay a bill for someone or help someone less fortunate than you, but a lot of times, it's the smaller things in life that make the most difference.  Doing something randomly often reminds people that there are still nice people in the mean world we live in today.  It could give someone a taste of the hope they had lost, a feeling of faith in other people or just warm a heart that has grown cold.

Today's Starfish

What I did today is a prime example of what I mentioned above - except my Starfish focuses on children.  Do you remember as a kid how excited you would get when you found a penny or a quarter on the ground?  (I still get excited!!)  Or when you were lucky enough to find that five dollar bill someone accidentally dropped?  Or saving all your allowance so you could go play your favorite arcade game or get candy out of a machine?  What about finding that twenty dollar bill in the pocket of your winter coat?  (That would probably still excite you now!)

After work today, a friend and I went to the mall.  I took eight quarters with me and went to the children's play area because there is a spot that has about 4-16 different machines - toy machines, gumball machines, you name it.  All it takes is a quarter to get that special treat.  So, very nonchalantly, I started putting my quarters in the machines and turning the knob ever so slightly so the prize wouldn't come out, but also so the quarter was not visible.  I can only imagine how excited a little kid might get when he has begged his mom for money so he could get a piece of candy, and there is already one waiting for him. 

Love

We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love."
-Mother Teresa (1910-1997)


Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.  To some people, V-Day is the worst thing ever.  Maybe because they don't have anyone to share it with.  Maybe because they don't like being "fuzzy" and mushy toward their significant other.  I used to be one of those people.  Hated Valentine's day because I never had anyone to share it with.  But Valentine's day doesn't just have to be about love with a special someone.  It is a day where you can show love to your friends, your family, random strangers.  It doesn't just have to be about the flowers and the balloons, the chocolates and the sappy love songs.  I received a special valentine from one of my best friends today.  And a valentine card from my mom and dad.  These things made me feel the love that is associated with this holiday.

Even if you don't have that special someone in your life, do something nice for someone else.  You might be a special someone in the life of someone else, for tomorrow anyway.


Today's Starfish

I did a few small things today to show love for other people.  I put a package together for an old friend who recently had a baby that I am going to put in the mail tomorrow.  I had a long phone conversation with someone I don't speak to nearly enough.  I made a photo extra special and shared it with someone who means a lot to me.  I sent an email to someone I've been meaning to email back. 

Today, I wrote a letter to my 91 year old great aunt Izola.  She used to live across the sidewalk from my grandma before my grandma passed away.  After my grandma passed, she moved far away to live with her daughter and I haven't seen her since the funeral.  She was always there for the small milestones in my life.  Birthdays, celebrations, etc.  She always showed me a lot of love, even if I didn't realize it at the time.  I used to water her plants, carry her groceries and "taxi" the ladies around town.  I miss having that older generation in my life.  You can sure learn a lot about kindness and love from people who have been on this earth for 91 years.

Pay It Forward

 "No kind action ever stops with itself.  One kind action leads to another.  Good example is followed.  A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.  The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves."

-Amelia Earhart (1897-1937)

Just like smiles, kindness can be contagious too.  I think "paying it forward" is fantastic for a few different reasons.

A) It brings joy on both sides.  It affects not only the mood of the person who is receiving but also the person giving.

B) It takes the focus off of myself.  Instead of asking myself how I am going to benefit from something, I change the question around and ask how can I make someone else feel good or smile?

C) We could all use a little unexpected goodness every now and then.  It makes us feel like there are still good people in the world around us.

D) One act of kindness could create a ripple effect.  When I do something kind for someone, maybe they go do the same thing for someone else.


Today's Starfish

This morning I went to Starbucks and got my usual Skinny Vanilla Latte.  As I was driving to the window to pay I glanced in my rearview mirror and noticed the elderly man behind me.  That's when I had the idea to pay for his coffee.  Don't get me wrong, I have paid for people's coffee before but only when the pay it forward act has already started and someone else paid for my coffee.  So I gave the barista my card and said, "I would also like to pay for the gentleman's coffee behind me."  And guess what......

The barista said, "That is such a nice thing to do, dear."  And then she gave me a card for a free cup of coffee.

Needless to say, I had a terrific Monday :)

"Kindness, like a boomerang, is usually returned."

-Unknown