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Yesterday I shared my first attempt at Billy Coffey's ten dollar challenge . It didn't exactly work out the way I had planned, but I was still able to buy a couple cups of coffee for some unsuspecting people.
Last night while we were setting up for praise team practice, I was talking to Jeff (senior pastor/worship leader) about my attempt at an anonymous act of kindness and how it didn't go as expected. I went on to remark how genuinely surprised the employee I spoke with was that I would do such a thing and how I was genuinely surprised that he was surprised.
"Surely people buy other folks coffee all the time, right", I said. "No. They really don't", Jeff said. He went on to say that in all the time he did that type of work, he saw someone pay for a total stranger's order maybe four times. "Really?", I said. "Really. Friends will buy friends a cup of coffee without much thought. People just don't pay for total strangers", he said.
It truly surprised me that this is such a rare occurrence. Why do you suppose that is? It's such an easy, painless thing to do. As Christians, we should be looking for opportunities to love people, not because we're supposed to, but out of gratitude for the love He has lavished on us. It doesn't have to cost money, just a small investment of time and effort.
The first time I saw the following commercial, I thought it was cool -- right up until the very end when you figure out it's an ad for an insurance company -- that sort of bummed me out.
Are random acts of kindness so rare these days that we need to be reminded to do them by an insurance company? I dunno, just seems sort of sad to me.
So here's my challenge (I know, I'm very demanding here lately): Do something today for which you expect absolutely no recognition for. Someone once said character is what you do when no one is looking. What type of character are you?
And speaking of characters, find out who Billy Coffey met during his own personal ten dollar challenge over at The Christmas Change.
13 comments:
Will do!
This isn't demanding (well, maybe a little) its encouraging or motivating and that's a good thing! Keep it up, we all need reminders to treat others as we want to be treated!
I got one, but I'm not telling, cause then I'd get recognition and have to do something else....and the vicious cycle of random acts of kindness would begin... :-)
Oh cool....I just did something random and anonymously yesterday and now that I think about it....it was exactly a $10 item! I had forgotten about the challenge and now it is pretty cool to think that the exact amount was indeed $10!!!
God continues to blows my mind all.the.time. on how He orchestrates our daily life.
Anyway....you are so right about how sad it is for an insurance company is one of the few to spread the word about doing random acts of kindness.
I love all these challenges, really. They're bringing us back, which is fantastic.
The kids and I are working on our 'challenge'. Can't wait to see how it all plays out...
I never leave the house...
Very cool. I keep hearing in my head, "Actions speak louder than words" when I read these posts. very cool.
Heart Kathy, I don't know your exact situation, but I don't get to go out much either. For my mom it is even harder, because she is bedridden / wheelchair bound. We have a ramp, but she is fearful.. Anyways, she makes things for people. Sometimes it is a pillow or a throw, and sometimes it is a "Smile God Loves You" foam doorhanger (not exactly a classic keepsake...). She makes them for friends, family, neighbors, and strangers. Mom gives so many of them away, that accepting them has become a random act of kindness others do for her. :-)
My point is that even if you don't get out, you ARE a valuable part of your community, and there is something you can do.
BTW, I go grocery shopping once a week. I wasn't going to say anything, but my random act is I get a cart that someone left in the wrong spot, like a parking place or worse yet between two cars and I use that instead of one from inside the store. Even if it is cold, I keep my gloves on for a bit.. (Dang, now I gotta do something else.. ;-)
Katdish, sorry such a long commnet. Maybe I should have done this on my blog. I just want Heart Kathy to know she is a valuable part of the community even if she can't be out there often. Any little thing can improve a situation. That whole cart thing won't make anyone's day, but it might keep a car from getting banged due to wind. And again, it might be something stupid Helen does. We'll never really know .
That is cool! I wish I was in line behind you! LOL.
I have noticed random acts of kindness more, now that I'm a mom - people helping open doors for me. Once, when I had baby slinged in front of me, trying to grind the coffee at Costco, a woman stopped to pour the beans for me. Then, she left before I could say thank you.
She was my angel that day.
That's a great idea. I'll be sure to do it.
so how random is random?
And I will see your challenge at Easter, and raise you 4x10x$10!
I'll let you know how it works!
keep it up! inspiration is a great thing!
I've been home sick most of the week and haven't been able to do my Ten Dollar Challenge, but now I'm back in the land of the living and am keeping my eyes open for ways to do it. My standby is to pay for the meal of the person behind me in the drive thru, but I'm waiting to see if God is asking me to be more creative or more anonymous.
So I just found out that we have at least 2 things in common: 1) we are both on praise team, 2) our Starbucks orders are exactly the same.
...except I often add an extra shot.
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