My wife and I were enjoying a beautiful Saturday morning, on the outside patio of Graham's 318 coffee shop, in Geneva, IL. Kathie was sipping her drink. I had gotten up to go inside when a man showed up with dozens of bouquets of flowers, which he started handing out to all of the ladies.
He explained that they were "day-old" flowers and where to be thrown away. So, he gathered them up, placed them in the trunk of his car and went around handing them out to anyone who would accept them. He felt that nothing brightens up a woman's day like a bouquet of flowers.
When he was asked why he was doing it, he simply said that it was a random act of kindness.
He had already gone when I came out of the store. I wish I could have met him. Maybe we will see him again. What an awesome idea.
By the way, the bunches of flowers had Trader Joe's stickers on them. I understand that Trader Joe's is very generous this way... Just in case you might want to do this yourself.
God bless you.
Showing posts with label random acts of kindness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label random acts of kindness. Show all posts
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
Back again...
I decided to restart the blog that I had set aside... I can't believe it has been two-and-a-half years now. Though I haven't written in a while, I have still continued to help those in need, in any way that I can.
The purpose of the blog is to encourage and challenge all of you to step out of your comfort zone and do something for another person. We are so conditioned to mind our own business and avoid any kind of involvement, that people in need are often ignored.
What is it that makes us look the other way and ignore a person in need? The most popular answer that I've received is that the person in need wouldn't accept our help anyway, thus creating an awkward situation. It would be embarrassing - both for the person in need as well as the person offering help.
Sometimes, we feel like there is nothing that we can do. We're not mechanics, or rescue professionals, or policemen. What help can we possibly be?
But, it's not about all of that. One thing that I have discovered in the past few years of consciously being aware of other people in need, is that most of the time, you don't need to do anything - you just need to be there.
Years ago, I came across a woman and her daughter that were broken down on a stretch of road that wasn't very well traveled. They had called AAA, and were promised a tow truck within the hour. There wasn't anything that I could do for the vehicle, but still, I was concerned about the two of them being stranded alone. It was late afternoon and the sun was starting to set. It didn't seem right for me to just drive away, leaving them behind.
I asked if they would like me to stay with them until the tow truck arrived. Putting myself in their position, I was the proverbial "creepy guy" that comes along when you break down on a deserted road. They had no idea who I was, and I'm sure they felt very uncomfortable. Talk about an awkward moment.
The woman didn't know what to say. Later, she told me that she didn't want to be out there alone, and was happy that I suggested that I stay, but in my own vehicle, until the tow truck arrives.
When I first arrived, I had told her that I was a mechanic. When the tow truck was ready to leave, she handed me her husband's business card. Her husband owned a machine shop. On the back, she had written, "This is the guy that stopped to help Nan and me." She said that if I ever needed any machine work, I should call him. Her husband and I became good friends.
It was terribly awkward. She rejected my offer to help. But still, I did what I thought was the right thing to do. It wasn't a big deal. All I did was sit there for about forty-five minutes. If it was my wife and daughter, I would hope a guy like me would come along.
Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and offer some help. It might be awkward, and you might be rejected. But then, you might just have the chance to show Christ's love through a simple, random act of kindness.
The purpose of the blog is to encourage and challenge all of you to step out of your comfort zone and do something for another person. We are so conditioned to mind our own business and avoid any kind of involvement, that people in need are often ignored.
What is it that makes us look the other way and ignore a person in need? The most popular answer that I've received is that the person in need wouldn't accept our help anyway, thus creating an awkward situation. It would be embarrassing - both for the person in need as well as the person offering help.
Sometimes, we feel like there is nothing that we can do. We're not mechanics, or rescue professionals, or policemen. What help can we possibly be?
But, it's not about all of that. One thing that I have discovered in the past few years of consciously being aware of other people in need, is that most of the time, you don't need to do anything - you just need to be there.
Years ago, I came across a woman and her daughter that were broken down on a stretch of road that wasn't very well traveled. They had called AAA, and were promised a tow truck within the hour. There wasn't anything that I could do for the vehicle, but still, I was concerned about the two of them being stranded alone. It was late afternoon and the sun was starting to set. It didn't seem right for me to just drive away, leaving them behind.
I asked if they would like me to stay with them until the tow truck arrived. Putting myself in their position, I was the proverbial "creepy guy" that comes along when you break down on a deserted road. They had no idea who I was, and I'm sure they felt very uncomfortable. Talk about an awkward moment.
The woman didn't know what to say. Later, she told me that she didn't want to be out there alone, and was happy that I suggested that I stay, but in my own vehicle, until the tow truck arrives.
When I first arrived, I had told her that I was a mechanic. When the tow truck was ready to leave, she handed me her husband's business card. Her husband owned a machine shop. On the back, she had written, "This is the guy that stopped to help Nan and me." She said that if I ever needed any machine work, I should call him. Her husband and I became good friends.
It was terribly awkward. She rejected my offer to help. But still, I did what I thought was the right thing to do. It wasn't a big deal. All I did was sit there for about forty-five minutes. If it was my wife and daughter, I would hope a guy like me would come along.
Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and offer some help. It might be awkward, and you might be rejected. But then, you might just have the chance to show Christ's love through a simple, random act of kindness.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Day Two
I'm starting to think that I might be the world's first Roadside Assistance Ministry. You guessed it, another flat tire.
I had gone through the entire workday without really coming in contact with anyone. I was beginning to wonder if I would when, on my way home from my last job, I came across a guy in a Dodge minivan. His left front tire was flat, and he was stuck in the middle of an intersection.
I swung around and pulled in behind him. I turned on my flashers.
Now, this guy was a big, construction worker, type of guy. As I approached, I saw him throwing his leather tool bags from the back cargo area, to the back seat. He was cranking down the spare tire when I asked him if I could help. He turned to look at me and said, "I got it."
Lesson #2 - Some people don't want my help, or at least, don't want to admit that they need my help. For this guy, it was his male pride - no guy likes to admit that they need help. I realize that he was fully capable of changing a tire, but my help could get him on his way a little faster.
Afterall, he was blocking a major intersection.
I grabbed his jack and tire iron, and began loosening his lugs. He rolled his spare up and said under his breath, "This is perfect, the spare is flat." I told him that I have a compressor in my truck. I would fill his spare while he continued removing the flat.
In a matter of minutes, we had his spare on and he was on his way. He grunted out a, "Thanks, man." before he left.
I started laughing to myself as I was driving home. I thanked God that He gave me this situation, and I saw Him work through it. Yah, the guy was fully capable of changing his own tire, but if I wouldn't have stopped, he would have been in a bad situation with a flat spare. I wonder if the guy has put any thought into it. The best that I can hope for is that he went home to his wife, told her the story, and said, "Thank God this guy came along." It was a miracle. And God deserves the thanks for it.
I had gone through the entire workday without really coming in contact with anyone. I was beginning to wonder if I would when, on my way home from my last job, I came across a guy in a Dodge minivan. His left front tire was flat, and he was stuck in the middle of an intersection.
I swung around and pulled in behind him. I turned on my flashers.
Now, this guy was a big, construction worker, type of guy. As I approached, I saw him throwing his leather tool bags from the back cargo area, to the back seat. He was cranking down the spare tire when I asked him if I could help. He turned to look at me and said, "I got it."
Lesson #2 - Some people don't want my help, or at least, don't want to admit that they need my help. For this guy, it was his male pride - no guy likes to admit that they need help. I realize that he was fully capable of changing a tire, but my help could get him on his way a little faster.
Afterall, he was blocking a major intersection.
I grabbed his jack and tire iron, and began loosening his lugs. He rolled his spare up and said under his breath, "This is perfect, the spare is flat." I told him that I have a compressor in my truck. I would fill his spare while he continued removing the flat.
In a matter of minutes, we had his spare on and he was on his way. He grunted out a, "Thanks, man." before he left.
I started laughing to myself as I was driving home. I thanked God that He gave me this situation, and I saw Him work through it. Yah, the guy was fully capable of changing his own tire, but if I wouldn't have stopped, he would have been in a bad situation with a flat spare. I wonder if the guy has put any thought into it. The best that I can hope for is that he went home to his wife, told her the story, and said, "Thank God this guy came along." It was a miracle. And God deserves the thanks for it.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Day one
Day one was met with a few obsticles. What will I do if I can't find anyone to help? I can't always count on young ladies with flat tires, being there on the side of the expressway. The problem I had, that is truly the escense of this project, is not the lack of situations, but my ability to recognize them in time. The only act of kindness that I showed anyone was to let the Salvation Army bell ringer cut in front of me in the check-out line at Walmart.
As I look back over this first day, I see so many situations that I could have helped. The Salvation Army Volunteer was buying a bag of M&M's for his lunch. He was concerned about the amount of money left on his Walmart gift card. I could have offered to buy him lunch. Maybe he would have turned me down, but I still should have offered.
I can tell already, that this project is not so much about helping people in need. It will be more about me recognizing their need, and allowing Christ's light to shine through.
As I look back over this first day, I see so many situations that I could have helped. The Salvation Army Volunteer was buying a bag of M&M's for his lunch. He was concerned about the amount of money left on his Walmart gift card. I could have offered to buy him lunch. Maybe he would have turned me down, but I still should have offered.
I can tell already, that this project is not so much about helping people in need. It will be more about me recognizing their need, and allowing Christ's light to shine through.
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