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Chrysalosity

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20 Sweet & Simple Ways to Show Kindness

February 14, 2020 · LIFESTYLE

20 sweet and simple ways to show kindness

Today is Valentine's Day - the one day of the year when public displays of love abound!

But if you ask me, Valentine's Day is a little overrated and gimmicky. Ron Swanson once said that "birthdays were invented by Hallmark to sell cards." Well, Valentine's Day just might've been invented by Russell Stover to sell chocolate! But even though all the focus of Valentine's Day tends to fall on romantic love, it's also the perfect day to show you care through simple acts of kindness.

Isn't it ironic that a day meant to celebrate love in all its beautiful forms is often so exclusive? Many people end up feeling more alone and depressed than ever - but it doesn't have to be that way! On a day all about love, one thing is clear - we live in a world that needs a lot more of it.

I don't know about you, but I love hearing stories on the news of people who go out of their way to be kind to strangers. Every time I hear those stories, I feel a little burst of inspiration to do some small act of kindness in my own capacity. So with the help of some personal experience and inspiration from real-life stories, I've put together a list of 20 sweet & simple ways to show kindness.

Whether you're reading this on Valentine's Day and want to spread some extra love, or you're just looking for small ways to show your loved ones you care at any time of the year, I hope you'll find at least one way to show kindness to someone you love!

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20 sweet and simple ways to show kindness

 

20 Simple Ways to Show Kindness

1. Complete a chore for your spouse, family member, or roommate - especially the ones they hate!

2. Start a kindness fund! Collect your loose change and at the end of the year, turn that cash into a sweet surprise for a friend in need or a local charity.

3. Offer to watch a friend’s kids for a few hours so she can get some rest, do some work, or go on a date!

4. Write an anonymous note of encouragement to a friend at work.

5. Return or replace a lost item.

 

20 Simple Ways to Show Kindness

 

6. Buy the drive-through order for the car behind you.

7. Tell someone you’re praying for them. It’s encouraging to hear it out loud!

8. Surprise your significant other with flowers, candy, or a sweet note after a hard day.

9. Send your child’s teacher an email or a handwritten note saying how much you appreciate his/her work. (Trust me, this encouragement keeps teachers afloat!)

10. Offer to help a struggling mom in the grocery store by loading her groceries for her or paying for small treats for her kids.

 

20 Simple Ways to Show Kindness

 

11. If you know someone who has recently moved to your city, invite them to dinner! Being new to a city is overwhelming and lonely, especially when you don’t have any connections.

12. Give away an item you no longer use to someone that needs it, rather than selling it or throwing it away.

13. Leave a surprise note (or cash!) inside a meaningful page of your favorite library book to bless the reader. (This happened to me years ago, and I never forgot it!)

14. Pack a lunch for your spouse the night before an early morning. Surprise him/her with a sweet encouraging note and snacks they love!

15. Send a care package or unique gift to a friend or family member that lives far away to let them know you still think about them.

 

20 Simple Ways to Show Kindness

 

16. Surprise a friend at work with their favorite coffee order. (Starbucks often does BOGO Happy Hour on Thursdays from 2-7 pm!)

17. Double your recipe when you’re cooking and bring the extra meal to someone struggling with grief, sickness, depression, or even a busy schedule.

18. Carry sticky notes and a pen or marker in your purse. When you go to a public place, you can post an encouraging note, inspiring quote, or scripture passage to encourage strangers that see it!

19. Call (don’t text!) an old friend you haven’t chatted with in a while.

20. Stop to help someone having car trouble, or offer to wait with them until help arrives.

 

20 Simple Ways to Show Kindness

Not so great with words? Check out these note cards & sticky notes - perfect for spreading kindness wherever you go!

Sending EXTRA love your way today!

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An Impossible Love | Day 28 of #30DaysOfBlogging

October 6, 2019 · LIFESTYLE

An Impossible Love | Day 28 of #30DaysOfBlogging

Earlier this week, "forgiveness" was trending on Twitter.

A powerful story of forgiveness captured the hearts of many Americans this week as Brandt Jean hugged his brother's murderer, Amber Guyger, at her sentencing. Before that hug, Jean made a statement forgiving Guyger for her actions, saying that he loved her and that he wished her well.

Speaking for myself, this display of forgiveness was a conviction. I don't know what it's like to lose a loved one so tragically, but I can imagine that facing the convicted murderer of my brother would be too much to bear. But where everyone expected to see anger and vengeance, there was nothing but peace, forgiveness and love.

 

An Impossible Love

The love that Brandt Jean showed Amber Guyger was an impossible love, apart from divine intervention. Were it not for the love of Christ and the work of the Spirit in his heart, anger would have consumed him. Only a man of God, who himself knows the extent of Christ's love and work of redemption, could utter the words that Jean spoke in grace to his brother's murderer.

Oh, how He has loved us with an impossible love, in that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Jesus went to the cross for stubborn, unapologetic, hate-filled sinners. For persecuters and murderers like Paul. For loud-mouthed deniers like Peter. For stubborn feet-draggers like me.

Christ sacrificed glory for shame. He intervened with grace and mercy for chronic mistake-makers and wretched criminals. He touched outcast lepers and spoke gently to those who blatantly mocked him. His love is impossible for sinners like us to replicate, but a glimpse of that love was imitated in the grace-filled words of Brandt Jean.

 

The World Will Not Understand

Since Jean and Guyger's iconic hug in that courtroom, backlash immediately ensued. Some were upset that the judge also participated in this show of divine love and grace. Some were upset by the sentencing itself. Others were angry about all this talk of the power of forgiveness and felt that Jean shouldn't have had compassion on Guyger because of racial implications.

Without the Spirit's work in the hearts of believers, none of us would understand this display of forgiveness. 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us that our human nature does not accept or understand the things of the Spirit, but considers them foolishness. The world will not understand why and how Brandt Jean could forgive Amber Guyger, because the world does not understand the Holy Spirit's work. And "there, but for the grace of God, go I." (John Bradford)

I'd like to think that if I had to take the stand in this sort of scenario, I'd have the strength to speak grace and love to the guilty party. I pray that God would grow my heart to be more understanding and filled with the kind of love that can only come from His Spirit. And I pray that this powerful, impossible love, this beautiful imitation of Christ, would shine a light as bright as Brandt Jean's shone on the glorious work He has accomplished for sinners.

 

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An Impossible Love | Day 28 of #30DaysOfBlogging

 

 

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About Me

Hi, I'm Rachel! I'm a millennial wife and mama loving life in the Midwest. Follow me for lifestyle tips like balanced food, accessible workouts, and personal growth inspiration!

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