Hadn't seen my elderly neighbors for 3 weeks. They went on a cruise, but Allen hurt his back while carrying suitcases. I cut their front lawn and nature strip. They were so grateful.
This month's theme of Random Acts of Kindness brings back fond memories of the time my two children and I went on a mission to do "37 random acts of kindness" on my 37th birthday. The acts of kindness not only impacted the people we wanted to show kindness too, but it also impacted the hearts of my children who witnessed first-hand the joy that comes from blessing others. Truly it is more blessed to give than to receive!
Bought a CD for an acquaintance who wanted to buy but didn't have cash on her. She was super grateful & it is such a blessing to give.
Told a young girl working at the Woolies register that she’s doing an awesome job:-)
My elderly neighbour struggles a bit so i take care of her bins and lawn with a good old chit chat.
I rang my uncle who lives overseas who tends to get lonely and had a lovely chat with him. At the end of the conversation he thanked me for calling.
Purchased groceries for someone who is struggling to feed their family.
Purchased a book for someone which will help the grow in their walk with God.
Contributed to paying a bill for someone.
Paid for someone's lunch.
My elderly neighbour recently had operation. I decided to help him to mow his lawn. He is so happy.
A good friend of mine just got out from jail he did 5 years with his cousin. Now I never knew his cousin and I connected with him on Facebook, as the time went I used to drop a few lines to him and ask how is he going, how are you feeling and he started to open up to me, telling me he was very depressed and he had no car, no job and was struggling. This was an opportunity for God to step in. I had a second hand car in my drive way not registered, I told him I would help him by giving my car to him to get him back on his feet. I got a road worthy ticket for it and registered it straight into his name when I gave him the car I brought him a brand new bible which I gave him also and asked him to one day read it. Now we got him a mobile and just last week I hooked him up with a friend of mine and got him a job. He is lost for words. He can not tell me how grateful he is as nobody would help him. He felt helpless and still can't believe how I went out of my way to pay for everything and get him on his feet. It just goes to show how the love of Jesus can flow through our lives if we allow it.
A family took in a friend of mine who's lease was running out and had nowhere to live.
A friend went to my sisters house to help her when her garage flooded on Cup day.
People have donated me furniture for my new house.
My mother has been calling people who are sick and taking them out for lunch, more intentionally than usual.
Every year I volunteer with Southern Cross Kids’ Camp (SCKC) Knox. SCKC is national not-for-profit that provides camps for children who have suffered neglect or abuse. The camps have a marvellous impact on the children who attend, their carers who get a well deserved break and the volunteers who work to make sure camp is a fabulous experience for the kids.
On last Saturday after 6pm church service, after Andrew Hill's sermon on kindness, my hubby and I invited two families from church to join our family for dinner at the restaurant. It was a surprise to them. They are happy and appreciated us so much for inviting them to dinner after church. During dinner, we all young and old (12 of us) had good time of sharing and catching up with life. Thanks God for His love, kindness, provision and blessings upon us. Praise the Lord!
I heard my cousin plan a divorce with his wife. I have chat with him, try to be there for him, hope can help or at least give encouraging positive thoughts.
Throughout the year our childrens’ primary school requires support in many ways and we always tried to help out as much as we can to serve the community. My wife and I were blessed to raise around $500 recently for the school fund raising and knowing people out there who cares and want to bless the school financially. Jeremy and Teresa
I caught up with a friend today and after riding we did breakie - went to pay but my friend paid the whole bill - a real blessing.
A man named Eric came up to one of our pastors on the weekend and donated a drum piece to the church. Apparently we didn't have this particular piece and were borrowing one because we didn't have budget to get a new one. We were very blessed by this!
I helped my sister to throw rubbish away when she littered.
Looked after 2 boys to let parents have a day out.
I just helped a blind lady with reading the bus timetable.
I had dinner at food court in Glen Waverley area. I also bought a cake from local bakery and gave it to the cleaning staff and mentioned that I appreciate what they do. She had a big smile, even at the end of the day. I feel so happy to be able to bless others.
Offered to help a single parent purchase and pick up all items on the 2019 school booklist for his son. Buying school books and stationery for the first time can be overwhelming and I hope to ease his load, physically and mentally.
My dad is a secondary school teacher and he was accompanying students in the city for an excursion. On the train back to school one of his students realised they left their bag at one of the stores they had visited. My dad then went back into the city to find the bag for his student which was difficult as this particular store did not have a phone number. He managed to retrieve the bag and gave it back to the student. By deciding to retrieve the bag for the student after the excursion was over meant getting home from work at 6pm instead of 4:30pm. This act of kindness towards his student was not asked for and much appreciated by the student.
Last week I bought one extra bar of chocolate at the supermarket because there were 3 left in the box. When we got outside there was a homeless man sitting near the door. I asked my 3-year-old son if he wanted to give the extra block of chocolate to him. So we went over. As soon as he received it, the man opened it and shared it with us. So we all sat down together to eat. I was blown away by his kindness! Here I was trying to be kind and he was kind straight back to us! A similar thing has happened another few times where I've done something kind and my kindness has been returned straight away. I can see God is teaching me in this.
I purchased some food for not for profit volunteers and didn't tell them it was me.
I listened to a colleague today as they told me about an issue they were having. After the discussion, I cheered them up with levity.
I organised a thank you get together for a line manager that was stepping up and doing extra work. Recognition is important to increase morale and to authentically appreciate hard workers.
Surprised a friend with her favourite food for lunch on a Sunday afternoon whilst she was tirelessly working in the outdoors. She was pleasantly surprised and very touched by the gesture.
Helping the weak and elderly to cross busy streets. Giving some money to those begging on the streets with physical disabilities.
Somone shared their Uber account with me so i didnt have to walk in the rain - thanks CityLife Church.
Someone bought me a bottle of water when I was thirsty.
Paid petrol for a lady (Looks like having a hard time).
We invited a young lady who visited church to come for afternoon tea this week, and also invited a young bubbly lady friend who's sang with me in choir for years. The girls connected & have future social plans to help our visitor feel welcome.
A Life group friend and I helped a lady struggling with grief & health issues to do an overdue clean out in her young son's room. The boy was excited when he got home from school & wanted to invite a friend over :)
Paid for someone's lunch.
I care for kids in hospitals who are sick. Parents can only visit at certain hours so at times the kids may get scared or lonely. I take extra time to sit down and chat with them, encourage them that everyones journey of healing is different and some may take longer than others. I had cared for this 1 particular patient for 3 weeks, at the end when she got discharged home she wrote me a personal card thanking me of that on the days I was allocated to care for her, she felt much more happier with me around. It really showed how spending that extra time with her really impacted her alot.
Whilst having coffee waiting for plane, sitting next to us was a group of airport security staff and noticed they where celebrating a birthday. After they finished singing birthday song was prompted to go over and say happy birthday, at the same time had souvenir koala in my backpack which I gave to the birthday girl. She was so thankful and joyful, they even shared their birthday cake with us. But what hit me the most was that they were just starting their 10 hour shift and she said "This is the is going to be the best shift I’ve ever had since I began working here".
Stayed over all night with a friend who's going through a difficult time.
I was encouraging a friend recently who was going through a tough time with one of her children. A few days later I was the one having a rough day. She quoted back to me some encouragement I had given to her just days earlier. She said, “a wise person recently told me to take it a day, or even an hour at a time”. How nice to hear those words given back to me. I was encouraging her, she ended up encouraging me!
As a walked past a homeless man, he asked me kindly if I had a dollar. I was at first hesitant but I stopped. This man was desperate for just a dollar where I look at a dollar and immediately head down to McDonalds to buy a frozon coke as if it has very little value. So I stopped and shook this mans hand and gave him $10. This man was so shocked but also unbelievably grateful, as I’m walking away he says, with tears welling up in his eyes, “God bless”.
Donated mattresses, sofa and household goods to a single mum in need. Church friends as well as unchurched people (unknown to her) rallied together to donate items too. She was very touched.
Visited and prayed for an unchurched in hospital.
Helped a random person on the street that was lost to find their way.
My Husband was diagnosed with having a brain tumor in 2016, at the time we had recently started a family business, I was travelling around for Weddings doing hair and makeup. Our world come crushing down for, the business needed to stop as my husband needed to have brain surgery that required him having half of his brain removed and then the following year he needed more removed. Our family has gone through so much over these past few years, and I have seen things that many people would not be aware of that so many families deal with and are facing from this life threatening illness. That I decided this year I was going to take some bookings for the first time since my husbands surgery and I wanted to donate any money made to the brain tumor support, more so the families that are going through this as it is so overwhelming not only getting the information of how sick you spouse is that they may not make it through the next 12 months but the financial burden is massive so I feel through this act of kindness many people will see God's love for all of us and that he has a plan for us all even though sometimes we don't understand it.
I bought a gift through the pick-a-star campaign!
Me and my wife took up a sponser child with Compassion!
A dog was lost and after ringing the owner she was an hour away, so I kept the dog in my backyard until the lady was home.
I saved seats for my friends at a conference!
Signed up for Kids of Naru!
Caught up with two friends who have recently walked away from Church! One of them this weekend gave their life back to Jesus!
I started sponsoring a child through compassion!
I babysat for my friends kids while she had an appointment.
A friend of mine needed a temporary baby seat for his overseas visitor. A kind lady offer it when she saw my post on Citylife Church Noticeboard. That helps my friend having to go through all the stress of looking for it. Thank you for your kindness.
I was packing to move house and found a folder I havent looked at for over a year and realised someone had blessed me with money at the front of that folder! God's timing is amazing! Thank you to whoever blessed me so long ago.
Helped a new Mum off the plane with her baggage.
Gave up my table at a busy food court.
My best friend from high school and I haven’t had much contact in the last couple of years, she lives in Bendigo and we both have little kids. I decided to knit her eldest son a beanie, as I made him one when he became a big brother and she keeps a photo of him wearing it as her phone’s wallpaper.
Chatted with an international student who struggles with low moods and loneliness... Got him a little gift to cheer him up. He met my son recently and mentioned to him how he chews on our little talks and feels better about his future. Praise God!
Helped an elderly woman to her car with her shopping trolley 😊 when she started to walk up the ramp outside the Amcal Chemist in Boronia, her trolley started to roll back on her, I ran over to where she was and grabbed hold of the trolley and advised her that I would help her to her car. I think God put me in the right spot at the right time...
My local shopping centre recently had a promotion to give away forty $40 gift vouchers. So I decide to join the queue and eagerly awaited to receive my $40 voucher. Whilst waiting in line, I started a conversation with the woman, also lining up, in front of me. What started off as small-talk about Christmas shopping somehow led to her tearfully sharing with me about her strained family relationships and financial struggles she was facing. As I listened to her story, I felt the Holy Spirit's prompting to give her my $40 voucher. When she received it from me, she was overwhelmed with emotion, gave me big hug and with tears in her eyes said to me - a total stranger - "Thank you so much!! You have no idea how much that means to me. I love you!" Never underestimate how much kindness matters. It can transform someone's dark moment with a blaze of light!
A couple of weeks ago after Saturday night service, my wife and I gave a lift to an international student who was sitting next to us during the service. We chatted with him and found out that it would take him an hour and a half to get home by bus. So we decided to offer him a lift and he was a very appreciative. He is an international student and he was by himself at church. He did not join any life group and didn't know many people in the church but still was dedicated to come to come to the service Andean week. We were very touched. In the car we had a very nice chat and it is such a blessing to be able to serve this young brother in Christ in this way. That made the night even more special.
Took to two precious girls for foster care for a month. As they were already friends to us to hopefully reduced the trauma they otherwise would have experienced. In turn, they taught our family lots of lessons.
I've had several opportunities to do acts of kindness in the past week. I donated to Light FM and they called me to share my story on air for 5 min. I've been through some really rough times, but God just keeps showing up, and to be able to share my gift of encouragement with people all over Melbourne was such an unexpected blessing! The same day, I was able to catch up with someone who'd been sick and I'd been praying for. He's doing much better now after a diabetic episode. He told me a while homeless man I've been encouraging for a year but hadn't seen in a few weeks was struggling, so I stopped and encouraged him as well! It was a terrific day!
My husband kindly mowed our neighbours nature strip. We moved into our home almost a year ago but still haven't officially met this neighbour, so it was nice to do something for them knowing that there wouldn't be any recognition.
I bought a coffee for my colleague as he and his wife recently had a baby and he didn't have much paternity leave. He was working long hours and I was so impressed at how much he was doing at work on so little sleep.
I prayed for my neighbour for healing and also that the Lord will comfort her and give her peace since she lost her husband early this year. She was touched immensely.
I volunteer with a crisis pregnancy helpline. Our callers are often very grateful to be able to speak to someone anonymously who will listen to their story and allow them to sort through all that they are going through. Tonight a caller said to me, "Thank you so much for your time, I am so pleased that I could call someone to talk to, I didn't know where else to turn." I was also able to refer her to a Women's support service near where she lives to receive the practical and emotional support that she needs.
Prayed with a friend today over some issues, the person was very encouraged.
Love that CityLife do the pick a star. It is a great way to bless the community and im glad i get to show kindnes to others by picking a star.
Tonight at our LifeGroup dinner we decided to do some acts of kindness and when we paid for our meal we asked the waiter if we could pay for other peoples coffee while we paid for our dinner. The waiter was quite taken aback by this. We said surely you've seen this before and she said no, in 7 months of working there she had never seen somone pay for someone elses order before. You could tell she was quite impacted by it.
I was parking the trolley at an Aldi store, and I saw these two ladies walk up to a trolley then looking at each other. It was obvious to me that they didn't have any change for the trolley. I knew I had a spare dollar coin in my bag from some thing i had just bought, I walked over and gave them the coin. They looked at me with shock when i handed them the coin, their jaws dropped. One lady asked me, why are you giving me this? I said that's for you, don't worry about it, and walked away. The thing that really surprised me was that I didn't think twice and just did it. Some thing so small and spontaneous to me, probably meant something big to these ladies.
Tonight our LifeGroup was unable to meet and continue our discussion series as planned. Rather than cancel we decided instead to meet at the Pancake Parlour and discuss practical ways we could demonstrate God's kindness to others. After looking around the restaurant we saw two tables and thought that, although cliched, we could pay their bills. At the end of the night we felt prompted to get the attention of a particular waitress to settle the bill. When we told her that we wanted to pay for not only our table but for two other tables also she was understandably very surprised and taken aback and somewhat lost for words. It then dawned on me that our actions not only impacted the people who would later find their bills mysteriously settled, but also the waitress who said she has never seen anyone do this before. I can't help but wonder what thoughts and comments followed...
I cooked a meal for a friend who was sick.
I baked extra home made goodies and gave them to a friend's daughter who was sick.
I stopped and gave up 10 mins of my time to offer help to someone who looked lost.
I invited a family to our life group Christmas gathering.
I was shopping at Coles. An elderly lady could not reach an item on the top of the shelf. I assisted her and she was thankful. After shopping at Coles I was heading towards the lift when I noticed an elderly lady was struggling to pull out a trolley. I went to help her and she thanked me for my kindness. After Coles I went to Woolworths and I inserted a coin to get a trolley. After a few tries I asked a staff member for assistance. I noticed an elderly lady was struggling with the same thing and I asked the staff member to help her too. I like to encourage church leaders and for the fine work they do and other people including my family whom I feel need encouragement through emails and verbally. Blessing others has brought so much joy to them and to me personally.
Paid for a grocery for a gentleman who was in line after me :)
Hi, Prepared dinners for an unbeliever friend who injured herself and lost her husband at the same time. She said " God bless you". She does not believe in God as her husband a well read scientist diagnosed with dementia spent nearly 10yrs in a care facility and did not recognise her or other family members.
Last week i went to help an elderly couple, they really need help so i offer myself to get their technical problem done. They are thankful for my time helping them. By the way they are unbelievers, at the same time the wife of that couple suffer from her back pains all the way down to her leg. And she allow me to pray for her healings. I also inviting them to our "Christmas Play" this Christmas in City Life Church. Looking forward to see them, and pray that they were give their life to Jesus. Amen.
Our Lifegroup mums got together and baked and cooked 4x items together to share with and bless others and help one another with a busy end to year
An elderly friend that has been in and out of hospital all year, we went out and bought her a Christmas tree, lights and decorations (she didn't have one). We took some gingerbread over and decorated the tree with my kids. She was so happy it blessed us all.
Cooked food for my sick work colleague and took the meal over to her place.
Been spending time with a homeless lady, listening to her story and supporting her with food and resources. Praying with her when the opportunities present themselves.
On Saturday I attended the Awakening conference in Melbourne and as part of this we were asked to go out onto the streets of Melbourne CBD and speak / engage people about Christ. In this quest I ran into the following people, 1) Ben who is struggling with heroine addiction, 2) Kyle is struggling with marijuana, 3) Joy whose sister is struggling in hospital. 4) Elise who is anxious about her parenting skills and 5) Lance who is a Christian but wanted prayer for his wife whose eye was losing sight. These people were presented with the love of Christ and prayed for. Kindness in prayer and love.
We did the laundry and weekly house chores for our housemate! we explained that our church has been encouraging us to do acts of kindness. He had a big smile on his face. Hopefully one day will be able to bring him to church!
My husband decided to give away our whipper snipper to the guy who does our mowing, just to thank him for always doing a great job. He was quite surprised, and now has an extra if his other one is out f service.
My husband always loves hearing our daughter play the piano when she's at our house, so he has bought her a really good 'Korg' portable keyboard for Christmas, so she can play at home too. She was gob smacked. They haven't always had the easiest of relationships, so this was an act of great love on his part.
A friend of mine has written her life story, an amazing powerful story of survival against terrible odds. I felt really strongly to edit and collate it for her, so we can maybe encourage other women who are going through tough times. I hope this is not only a blessing to her, but that it will multiply as others hear her story...
A friend will have wedding in Dec. parents in law can’t get visa to Australia, tried via family invitation & tourist visa, no luck. This afternoon he was so upset. I prayed for his situation & told him to stay positive. Today is a super busy day in the office, but I remember (from the sermon in the weekend), what we see/heard is important, for us to do our part.
One of my wife's friends was running a coffee stall, and her assistant was unable to make it. I told her I know how to make a coffee, I'll help out. I arrived on the day for her to say that it has been really quiet, and she wouldn't be able to pay me, and thanks for coming but I should just let her do things by herself. I told her I will stick around because I enjoy making coffees. So I did just that, worked with her for 4.5 hours making coffees for free. Well, I may have made myself a cup of coffee too! :)
One of my LifeGroup members enjoys his photography. I had an old camera sitting and collecting dust. He is very much enjoying using it, so I let him keep it :)
I and my wife were at Gotcha (bubble tea retail outlet) Glen Waverley, it was a long queue. The person in front of me bring everything except his wallet. He tried to find money or wallet in his pants, jacket pockets etc but can not find it. He was so embarrassed. When he was about to leave, I told the cashier that I will pay for his order. He mentioned he forgot his wallet but he can make a bank transfer via his mobile. I said it's ok, no need to pay me back. I haven not do an intentional act of kindness like this previously. Feel a bit awkward but definitely feel great. I do this because I was encouraged to do an act of kindness during the recent weekend sermons.