Be what we want to manifest, right? There are so many famous variations of that statement. Gandhi: Be the change you want to see in the world. I think the world can always use more kindness. What if we all challenged ourselves to plan an act of kindness each week? Once a week sounds easy, maybe even ridiculously easy. I have a coach who always says “set yourself up for success” so that is why I suggest once a week. Not too much pressure. Some planned acts of kindness might be a bit bigger-thinking about how much you can financially donate to a worthy charity that speaks to you. Other acts might be easier, “I will be buying the car behind me a coffee at the Starbucks drive-thru." Some idea’s will take a little more planning-coordinate with all your family members a night you can all volunteer together at a homeless shelter. But don’t think everything needs to be planned. The true goal of knowing your heart is in the right place is when something presents itself and you make the right decision. At the risk of this:
Matthew 6:1
Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
I will share that our family recently did as it may inspire. It required about four emails to make sure our five year old could be a part of the evening, find out our responsibilities, and logistics. It required internal family emails, reminding, explaining and getting everyone on board. And then the magic happened. It was finally the night. We went to a church in Minneapolis to serve dinner to people who needed a meal. We received an orientation about the kitchen, some rules and were told what we needed to do to get dinner ready. We helped set the tables and decided that our family of six would do the beverages and desserts so we could all be together. We handed out the cookies and my husband scooped the ice cream and we made sure everyone had water and milk. Other adult volunteers served the meatball, potato and gravy dinner, the exact menu we were planning for our Christmas dinner. We cleared and washed tables. We were able to go table to table and offer people the extra cookies and told them to take a bunch to have for later. Everyone was kind. They were grateful to us. All we did was serve them for a few hours and we went back to our warm home. Most of the people who ate dinner there that night did not have a permanent home. We have packed food at Feed my Starving Children which is a wonderful organization but there was something…about looking into the eyes of the people we were honored to serve that gave the night deep meaning. And the very best part is-all my kids asked as we were leaving was when we could do it again. Give presence to the world you want to create. (Random Acts of Kindness week is February 9-15, 2015)
Ezekiel 16:49
This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.