Sarah and Sheila Day 6--

Sarah Day 6--

When I woke up this morning, I started thinking about what I was going to do for my "act of kindness" for the day. Usually I have some sort of idea, but today I did not. Sometimes I wait for the what seems like the perfect act to suit the day, and other times ideas spring upon me randomly. Today happened to be one of those "spring upon me" days.

As I sauntered in to work, I walked through the same doors, by the same offices, and past the same vending machines. It seems to be my routine. I continued to follow that routine, and that is to take a peek at the goodies in the snack machine, just to see if there is anything I think I need. I decided that there wasn't, so I kept on walking towards my destination. Destination: reception desk. As I continued down the hall, I thought about how fun it is to find an extra quarter in the change compartment of a vending machine. I usually put two $1.00 bills in the pop machine and if I'm lucky, when I go to grab my returned coins there may be an extra quarter. It always seems like I've won some big money!

After I realized just how exciting that can be for a person, especially at the crack of dawn (which is 6:00 AM in my book) I decided how this could really start a person's day off on the right note. So . . . I turned around, took out my wallet and grabbed all of my spare change. I tossed $1.50 into the first pop machine, $1.50 into the second pop machine, and $1.00 into the snack machine. I figured this would surely make someones day, as I left all of the money entered in the machines. This way more than one person would be able to enjoy a free snack. Only, now that I think about it, hopefully the same person didn't catch on to my scheme and get three acts of kindness for themselves . . . I probably could have planned that out a little more. Eh well . . . Maybe I just made one person REALLY excited!

I continued on with my day, and I did not see nor hear of the people (or person) who received my little sprinkles of joy. I am perfectly okay with that. Tonight I will go to sleep fully satisfied knowing that someone probably got pretty excited about something as simple as a free snack. I hope that they had a great day because it started off right, and I hope that they tell someone about it. That way maybe more people will decide that the next time they use the vending machine, to leave an extra buck in it and make someones day.

So today, you guessed it, I'm thankful for spare money in the vending machines! =)

Sarah


Sheila Day 6--

It seems like there are so many things that one could do to help others out that it is literally overwhelming.  There is always someone who can use a helping hand, someone who is going through a difficult time, someone who . . . well, needs someone.  Yesterday while I was teaching, a young family was placed upon my heart.  A mom with two kiddos is finding it hard to find the spirit of Christmas as the challenges of life are literally consuming her.  Her mother and dad, my non-traditional students, are doing what they can to help, but they too are going through their own "stuff."  They are wonderful people, terrific parents, examples of givers, but life is hard and times are tough for them too.  They are both in school and have just adopted a little one to add to there family. 

As we were talking, I felt compelled to try and do "something."  I really did not know how much I could afford to do, but opted to make a valiant effort to do what I could to make Christmas a little more special for this family.  I had her mom and dad call their daughter to find out sizes for the kiddos . . . check that off the list.  Then I asked what kind of toys might be appreciated by their grandbabies . . . check that off the list.  Then I asked if there was something that I could do for their daughter . . . got some ideas . . . check that off the list.  I said I would try to do something.  I made no guarantee how much or what would be done, but something would.  Tears threatened to spill over as they both thanked me. Then I contemplated what I was going to do and how I was going to make this a reality.

Sometimes giving costs money . . . sometimes a lot of it!  Just recently I told Sarah that sometimes giving hurts.  In fact, sometimes it is not really giving if on some level you don't feel the pain a little.  However, ironically in my experience, things ALWAYS have a way of working out.  When I give it away, it usually comes back to me, and GUESS WHAT, I get to give it again, and again, and again.  That IS the spirit of God working! 

So for today, I toy shopped for 2 little people.  I did not buy a lot, but I bought what I could.  I cannot wait to wrap the gifts, deliver them next week at classes, and wait for my student, her mom and dad, to tell me if they loved them.  I will not be there to see the lights in their eyes as they tear open the packages.  They will never know who it was that gave the gift.  And yet, somehow just knowing has brought me great joy today!

I am thankful that I am able to do something that makes the world just a little brighter for someone else. 

God's Peace , Comfort, and GREAT JOY!
Sheila