Random Acts of Kindness

What if, even just once a week everyone in the world did a random acts of kindness?

As the holiday season is upon us and we are normally more aware of those less fortunate than us and generally want to help. Yet, some are barely getting by themselves and as much as they may want to help others that just can’t afford to, or can they?

This is where random acts of kindness come in, a simple smile, a compliment, letting something in line, a little note, holding a door open for someone… We tend to forget in this ever so busy and rushing world that sometimes the little things mean so much to a person. We never know what some random stranger is going through and simply holding a door open and giving a smile could change that person's whole day. And yet we joke and laugh at videos of how offend someone is if they don’t get a Thank you when holding a door or the road rage that someone has because someone pulled out of a parking lot in front of them while they were at a red light. I’m sure you getting what I’m saying, and I am guilty just like the rest of us of these things. In the moment we think of ourselves and not of the other person. We don’t think that maybe they just got the worst news of their lives and they are still in a daze, or maybe that person had been waiting to get out of that parking lot for a long time and they just are waiting for that nice person but instead they have to push their way out because well they have a life and things to do as well. I mean really if you think about it both of these acts take what 5 maybe 10 seconds and yet we can get bent so out of shape by them, and this is where God has a funny way sometimes of teaching us lessons.

It’s funny sometimes how God convicts us on certain issues, as I have had 2 standout moments recently with random acts of kindness. As you will notice both of these stories take place while I was getting coffee (yes, I love coffee!). About 2 weeks ago I was in the drive-thru at Starbucks on my way to work, I ordered my Quad Venti Caramel Macchiato Hot and pulled forward. When I got up to the window I was greeted by this young lady with an amazing personality, my drink wasn’t ready so she asked how my day was, I responded and asked her the same and had a brief interaction until my drink was ready. At this point she went to hand me my drink and realized they had made it cold not hot, she couldn’t apologize enough and asked them to remake it, her smile and upbeatness never even dimmed. As she took the next order, I could tell it was someone who didn’t frequent Starbucks on a regular bases, as answered question after question, after question (I think you get it) about drinks and food, still she had that smile and was even dancing a little. As I watch her I felt blessed that God had placed this young lady in my path and felt lead to tell her how amazing her personality and energy was. Knowing this could end up being a awkward moment, she walked back to the window with my coffee and I took a deep breath and as she handed me my coffee I said “I just have to tell you, you have the most amazing personality, I wish more person in the world had that, please don’t let anyone ever put out your light.” She was taken back for a moment and replied “Wow, you just made me cry that is the nicest thing anyone has said to me in months, wow thank you.” I told her she was welcome and pulled away so she could share her joy with the next customer. I had no idea what I said would have that kind of impact or how it has impacted her since, I had never seen her at that location before nor have I seen her since. Yet, that one small random act of kindness, of letting someone know they have a great energy about them, seem to change her whole day.

The other most recent moment happened just a few days ago after I had dropped my daughter Hailey off at school. I went to Dunkin Donuts to get some coffee, as I pulled in the drive-thru line which was wrapped around the building. (I’m a visual person so I will try and set this up for you the best I can) This particular DD is in the corner of a plaza and has 1 direct entrance from the road that leads into the DD parking lot and the drive-thru and 2 from the plaza itself, 1 that enters the drive-thru line closer to the ordering point and another that is close to where you come out of the drive-thru and kind of crosses the direct road entrance area. So, I pulled in from the main road right into the drive-thru line (knowing it would be a long wait, but I wanted coffee lol) so i wait and out of the corner of my eye I see this little red car pull up to the entrance that is closest to the ordering point. There were 6 or 7 cars in front of me already and we hadn’t moved since I got in line, so when I saw this little red car I kinda laughed and was like yeah right no one is letting you in, you need to go to the back of the line like everyone else. Finally we started to move and each car pulled forward not letting this car in, I again thought what were they thinking no one is going to let you in. As I got closer and still no one let (now that I could see) this lady into the line and I honestly hadn’t planned on letting her in either, until I heard that little voice say “really”. Yeah, really like I wasn’t in a hurry, I wasn’t running late for anything, why was I going to chose to be like all the cars before me, what if that was me, like seriously I was definitely not thinking like a Christian. And with that the truck in front of me pulled forward and I had a choice to make, be like all the others before me and more than likely the ones behind or I could let this lady go in front of me and I did just that. I motioned for her to go ahead and she waved and said Thank you as she pulled as far forward as she could, she did the same again as she pulled forward again. And that’s where I thought it had ended... I pulled forward and gave my order (Cafe Con Leche) and proceeded forward towards the window with CC in hand. I pulled up to the window and went to hand the cashier my card and she said “no need, the lady in front of you paid for you today.” I was shocked and overwhelmed, tears came to my eyes because all I could think was “wow if that lady knew that the majority of the time I was sitting there I had no intention of letting her into the line, I was thinking how did she think anyone would let her in this long line, she probably wouldn’t have bought my drink.” Talk about a reflection moment! Random Acts of Kindness!!!

I never expected to bring someone such joy for the first time in months, nor did expect a lady to buy my coffee. I just felt led to do something that was just so small in the grand scheme of things in this world, and I was shown how such small random acts can make such an impact in someone's life, even my own. We live in a world today that all you hear about is violence, and negative things happening, and I get it you might think “I can’t change the world” and yet a random act of kindness could change SOMEONES world, and if that person in turn does a random act of kindness to another, and so on and so on, we might just be able to change the world. Don’t put limits on yourself or others, as I have recently been told and learned “Do give a person their no”.

In Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT) is says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” If anyone knows the struggle the first part of this can be, it’s me and sometimes it’s a daily struggle. Yet I have to remember what comes after, as we all do…. Be Kind to Each Other, Forgive One Another, because Christ HAS forgive US of OUR Sins. All I ask is take a moment to be kind to others, do a random act of kindness, let someone into line, or out of a parking lot or space, hold a door, SMILE, compliment someone, find a random act. Remember we don’t know what anyone is really going through especially some random stranger, you could be the one good thing that happens in the day, week, month or even year and you may never know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgoMSvw9h7M

This is one of those probably no one has ever heard of song from 1998 from a band who never took off, and yet it speaks volumes even today!