Friday, July 9, 2010

Spreading Kindness

So today I've been thinking a lot about kindness--mainly about how much kindness we have received in the past three months since Roo was born, and especially in the last few weeks.  (Be patient, I'm working on the next installment of the story, I promise.)  I cannot tell you how much I have been blessed and overwhelmed by the acts of love we have witnessed.  Here are just a few that are on my mind today...
  • Two wonderful friends who took me out for manicures & pedicures and lunch yesterday
  • Another great friend who watched "Eclipse" with me last night, cried with me at dinner, and then helped me to laugh and think about other things
  • My Supper-Swap Girls who brought dinner to my family 3 nights a week for an entire MONTH when I couldn't get it together to participate in the swap
  • A sorority sister who sent a card to us at Children's--even though we hadn't been that close in college, her son spent a lot of time at Children's as an infant and she knew what it felt like
Those are only a sampling of the outporing of support we've gotten.  It is truly amazing to me.  And so now I want to spread a little kindness of my own.  I am doing my first ever BLOG GIVEAWAY!  The winner will get their choice of a $10 Starbucks gift card or Glee: The Music, Volume 1.  Why that CD?  Well, because "glee" (the word, not the TV show) sort of makes me think of kindness, and becauses that's MY favorite of the Glee albums.  :-)

"So HOW do we win this AWESOME prize?", you might ask. 

"Well," I might answer, "here's how.  Simply post a comment on this point, telling me about an act of kindess that you have done OR that has been done for you."  And yes, I mean YOU.  You, my friends and family from real life who are reading this.  You, my FB friends who I haven't seen in ages.  You, the person I have never met but reads my blog.  You, the person who heard about this blog and/or giveaway from a friend.  You, the person who stumbled here completely by accident.  I want YOU to post a comment and enter to win this prize.  Because thinking about acts of kindess is helping me get through the day today, and I want to hear as many of them as I can.  So really, just your posting an act of kindess IS an act of kindess.  Crazy, isn't it?

So let's hear 'em.  (The winner will be chosen at random, by the way, using a highly sophisticated method of asking my 5-year-old to pick a number between 1 and however many comments I have...)

PS - This contest is open until midnight on Monday, July 12.

13 comments:

erin said...

Not that I'm anxious to win, but I have a wonderful friend named Katy who came to visit me after Levi was born and listened to me and offered encouragement and support during a rough time. Not to mention she drove something like 5 hours to get here to do it! :)

Love,
Erin

_ said...

We've had a TON of kindness sent our way since we brought our daughter home. Specifically I'm thinking about a friend of mine who I barely knew before I brought Little Miss home and she totally has brought us dinner, books, taken me out to coffee, babysat my kids, and cleaned my kitchen!

Jill Culp said...

I look forward to reading your blog when I see a new post on facebook! I am just amazed to think how everyone had helped with prayers and donations for medical expenses when Owen was born. Granted it was 5 1/2 years ago now, but it just amazed me that people were so generous to help out when we just didn't know what to do or think when Owen was at Akron Children's. Even if it was just a kind word to let me know that they were thinking about us, it made me realize that I wasn't alone in the whole ordeal.

Annette said...

I don't know if this is considered an act of kindness but today my 23 months old helped a lil girl that was maybe 18 months old get into her seat and he even tried to push in her chair for her it was so sweet. Thought now that will be a true gentleman when he gets older. I hope it sticks with him !

Nick B said...

I often think of the kindness the women at Riverwood showed us when they brought us food after Madeline was born. Several of the women didn't even know us.

Marjie B.

meeyeehere said...

I make an effort to do nice things all the time so they usually are not random but just yesterday I was leaving a store and a man walked to his car and I saw from far away that money fell out of his pocket when he reached fin for his keys so I ran over and stopped him from leaving to give him his 4o bucks.The man was so touched,he embarrassed me.He kept thanking me and saying that not many people would have done the same.I am a shy person so I felt a little flush come over me but I am always happy to help someone out.
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

Monica said...

Hello Katy - You don't know me, but we have a mutual friend - Erin, and she encouraged us in her blog post to visit your site, check out your blogs, and enter the giveaway contest. I came here with no intentions of entering the giveaway contest, but to learn more about the trials in your life and to pray for you, but I've decided to submit a few acts of kindness:

Bestowed upon me (blessings - I have too many to name, but I'll post just a few):
- I belong to a geocaching group (it's a treasure-hunting type hobby involving GPS receivers and hiking)that meets every Wednesday night at a local sports bar just to visit, talk about finds, etc., and there are a TON of great people there. Well, I've connected particularly with a middle-aged couple - the woman who is quiet, but insightful and who just has a really good aura about her. I missed our group meetings a couple of times - mainly because I was struggling with depression and some medical issues - and didn't feel like facing people. When I returned after a few weeks, she appeared genuinely concerned about me, and asked how I was. I told her I was fine, but just tired. I wasn't planning on eating because money was tight. The next thing I knew, the waitress came over and said that she was instructed to tell me to order something, or she would order for me! I was taken aback, but the waitress signaled with her eyes toward my friend indicating the direction came from her. My friend sat there smiling. It truly touched me the kindness she showed me. It was exactly what I needed at that moment. I sent her a heartfelt e-mail afterwards explaining how much it meant to me, and that she had no way of knowing, but that it really meant a lot to me. Since then, she has regularly paid for my meal (usually before I even realize it), even though I refuse. It may be a small thing, but it means more to me than she will ever know, or I could ever tell her!

- A different situation, but it involves the same woman. She creates these beautiful hand-crafted plush animals. I noticed a few pics of some she had made for family friends posted to her Facebook. I commented on how cute they were. About 2 weeks ago, I showed up for our usual Wednesday meeting, unfortunately stressed out from work, and she presented me with an adorable little rabbit plush. I seriously wanted to cry. I hugged her and was at a loss for words. I had forgotten that I had commented on them, and it floored me that she thought of me enough to make one.


(continuing in second comment post)

Monica said...

(continued from above)
Kindness that I feel I have given to others:

- I'm not one to "toot my own horn" but thought I'd share this one incident. Fireman, policeman, and service men/women are very close to my heart. My father has been a fireman for almost 30 years, and although he serves on a volunteer department, he has given so much of his time and heart to this which obviously, can bleed into family time (holidays, etc). I feel this is very selfless and have always appreciated those who serve us (in one way or another). This past Thanksgiving, I was invited to a friend's for dinner, since my family is 1,200 miles away in Ohio (I'm in Texas). I had such a good time with her family, that on the way home (it was about 8:00 p.m.), I decided I wanted to pay it forward. I just felt the overwhelming urge to do something nice for someone else. On my way home, I passed the nearby fire station. Impulsively, I pulled into the parking lot of the only store open - CVS - and loaded up on snacks, drinks, and goodies. Then I took them over to the fire station and rang the back bell. The man that answered the door was concerned, thinking I needed help. I explained that I was just bringing them goodies - and that I was thankful for their selfless service - especially during holidays when they have to be away from their family. He was shocked, thanked me, and invited me in for a tour of the new station. The other 3 gentlemen in the station were so excited to see a case of their beloved Dr. Pepper, and a bag of snacks. I chatted with them for awhile, telling them about my father, and spent about 45 minutes talking with them. When I left, they thanked me again. I left with my heart feeling completely full. I made their night, but what they didn't know, is that they had made mine, too. I plan to return to the station randomly with surprise snacks. It just makes me feel good. :)

Anyways - that's all I have. Thanks for sharing your story here. I'll be praying for you and your family, and I'll continue to read your updates!
- Monica (friend/sorority sister of Erin)

Jan said...

Hi Katy- I don't need to win- but I love your blog. I have some great friends that took my 4 year old daughter on all the rides at the amusement park when I got motion sickness after the first ride in 95 degree heat. It would have been a very disappointing day for her otherwise.

Chrissy said...

I had a kindness done for me by a neighbor. I was not feeling well three days ago and took a sick day and every morning my neighbor and I say hello (she's this cute elderly lady) and she had not seen me for two days and actually rang my doorbell to check up on me. So sweet of her. It just made me feel so blessed to have caring people like that around me!

lucybrad23{at}gmail{dot}com

Cathy said...

I have started a diary with my kids on how we have seen God work through us that day. It started when Rose picked up a band-aid one morning before we left for the zoo. I told her I would put it in my pocket because we may need it that day. While at the zoo a child took a spill right in front of us and we had the opportunity to give that little girl the band-aid. Then I had the opportunity to share with Rose how God used her this morning when she gave me the band aid. We wrote about it and John drew a picture about it. It has been a great time with the kids to see God even in the little things.

Monica Lappe said...

Hi Katy! i check the blog daily and look forward to your posts!
The kindness I wanted to share was from my 85 year old grandmother. She is such a special lady and the type of grandma everyone should have. Anyway, she has always been a very independent and strong woman...she raised 3 children as a single mother". She still lives alone, drives, mows her lawn and gardens. She refuses to let her age define her. She does so many little things for me but recently she brought me over a huge plate of fresh homemade oatmeal raisin cookies! She just did this out of her own kindness for no reason at all. She inspires me to be kind and do things for others "just because".

Jennie said...

Katy, I love catching up on your story here! Our church family has bestowed so many acts of kindness, it's hard to choose just one. The one that comes to mind though is a dear choir friend who knew that hubby and I were struggling financially, and that I was trying to take classes to renew my teaching license to gain employment. She came to me one day with a check for a large portion of my class saying that "you're a good investment". It truly warmed my heart, and I am a licensed teacher again today!