Random Acts of Kindness: Bless Your Cashier

Here's another random act of kindness for you: I was at our local Target but you can do this at any store that has candy next to the check out....okay so pretty much EVERY store.

I just learned the cashier Heather W. at our local Target's favorite candy bar is Take 5.  All I did was ask what her favorite candy bar is, then bought her one as I checked out. 

Hope you enjoy your well deserved treat Heather! And if I bump into you ever again, I won't even have to ask, but you can expect you'll be getting another Take 5.

You too can be a blessing to someone for only $0.78 (before tax). :) 

Heather Joy

RAK: HEB Parking Lot

This is part of our Random Acts of Kindness Campaign. Check out the original post to find out more.

Today, I started off like any day: with my list of things I needed to get done, one of which was the  grocery store.  So, I packed the kids up and headed to HEB.  As we walk in I see someone walking out with a bouquet of flowers...an idea is sparked.  So, I ask Kara "You think we could bless someone with some flowers today?"  An enthusiastic, "Yes, mom!" was the response I received.  So upon entering we go by the flower section and pick up a cute, small bouquet.  We carry it around thinking of how we could possibly pass this blessing on to someone and to whom, as we pick up our groceries.  We check out and start walking to the car.  We are parked right in the front, so we pull up to the car.  Still waiting on what we should do with these flowers.  I look down our row of the lot and there they are.

Just while we were inside shopping I saw two ladies with some children.  While some might say they were having a difficult time with their kids, I would just say they were having many opportunities of training at the moment.  You could sense their frustration.  You knew they had things to accomplish on 'their list' the same as you and me, so I could feel for them.  They're just trying to get the grocery shopping done and the kids are making more difficult then planned.  We saw the confrontation and the reprimand and like anyone else I was secretly praising her in my head for disciplining her child in public, which so many parents seem afraid to do now a days.  But we casually stroll by in search of some butter, and think nothing of it.

Well, there they were again, right in the parking lot just 4 or 5 cars down from ours.  So, I quick as Kara if she thinks that they would like some flowers today and she quickly agrees.  So I push the cart a little farther, hand the flowers and our "Light Up New Braunfels" card and have her hand them to them.  At first, the women who received the flowers was wondering what's going on when a mom with two kids in the cart strolls up and starts randomly handing them flowers.  But then I just said, "We're just doing a random act of kindness."  And immediately I almost start to cry.  You can see the joy in her face.  The moment she just needed a lift God was able to use us to do that.  And I've never felt more blessed in my life.  She thanks us about

10 times and we tell her that we just hope they have a blessed day as we casually walk back 4 cars over to load my car with the groceries we just purchased.

I don't know whether it was because of the lady's overwhelming gratitude or seeing my 4 year old daughter so eager to participate in loving like Jesus would love that made me almost loose it, but all I know is I'm addicted!  I'm addicted to a life of looking and searching out for ways to make a difference and to love like Jesus wants us to love.  I'm not going to any more just walk through life just doing 'my list' but rather I'm going to wake up and say, "Lord, I have some things to accomplish today but I hope and pray you will place people along my path that I can be a blessing to.  Help me be attentive to see them and to actively plan to leave a love trail behind me."

So, my challenge to you is buy some flowers and bless someone's day.

God Bless,
Heather Joy

Random Acts Of Kindness Campaign

We recently started a random acts of kindness series at our church and I thought I'd share a little bit of our journey along the way of this thing.

Our series at Northpoint Church is called "SHINE".  In Matthew 5:16, we are called to "let our lights shine before men that they may see our good deeds and praise the Father in Heaven."  I find this scripture inspiring because MY good deeds can point someone to HIM.  When someone is having a rough day or feel like the world has nothing but hate and depression to offer them, a random act of kindness can make them feel loved and hopefully reminded that the higher power hasn't forgotten about them!!

Along with this series we are starting a campaign called "Light Up New Braunfels".  The purpose of the campaign is to perform random acts of kindness around our city of New Braunfels, showing our "light" in the darkness.  We have cards that we pass out with our act of kindness.  On the back it has 10 check boxes and it states "Kindness. Pass it On."  The hope is that they, by receiving an act of kindness will be encouraged to pass on another act of kindness to someone else.  We could all use a little bit more love and kindness in our life.

What I love about this campaign is that our goal is not to grow our church, or even to necessarily win hearts to Christ (although that would be fantastic and we do pray for that), our goal is just to show the love of Christ to someone and we by doing that are promised by the Word that we will plant a seed that will point them to Christ.  

So, if you're thinking of doing something similar at your church or as a family I'd encourage you to check out the website I designed for this series at LightUpNewBraunfels.com.  It explains the concept of everything, showing ideas how you can be a "light" in your city and let's you share your experience.



So, please join me in this dare to show kindness for the next 6 weeks.  My goal is to do something whether it be small or big every day.  I hope to be posting some of our acts of kindness to if anything help spur on some more ideas of what you and your family can do to make a difference in this world.

God Bless,

Heather Joy