Well … December is over and with it, our Random Acts of Christmas Kindness or RACK. This year the girls and I made the Christmas season about loving others and in the process, sharing God’s love for others, by performing one RACK each day of Advent.
Here’s an iPhone photo of our mission completed!
As with my handmade Christmas gifts … I didn’t want to make this RACK activity about “blogging” it … I wanted to be truly “present” with each activity and the girls, so instead of bringing my camera and worrying about blogging shots … I’d grab a random iPhone photo when I could.
Some of our activities included in the photos below:
- Taping candy canes to ATM machines around town
- Bringing the girls riding instructor {and barn manager} hot cocoa and a muffin early one morning
- Taping quarters to vending and toy machines around town
- Grocery shopping for the sole purpose of putting it in the “Food for Families” box in the entryway of the store
- Plugging meters around town {and lots of fun explaining to the girls what “plugging” a meter meant!}
- Donating 72 stockings with treats, candy and a craft for second graders at a school in need
- Ringing Salvation Army bells
- Handing out Starbucks gift cards {$5.00 value each}
Some of our activities without photos:
- Paid past due library fees for 5 people
- Donated a poinsettia to the girls school
- Bought and donated toys for “Toys 4 Tots”
- Brought the girls teachers their favorite Starbucks drinks
- Brought treats to the employees of our local Post Office branch
- Purged from the girls personal “library” and donated to a school library in need
Originally, our plan was to hand out flowers at the mall, but the day before this RACK was planned, CJ had his company program and shared with everyone how we were celebrating the Advent season … that they “were about to be RACK’ed” … and had the girls go through and hand out Starbucks cards to everyone. We had a ton left over, so decided to hand them out at the mall instead of flowers.
I have to tell you … I experienced an incredible surge of emotion and thoughts as we were handing them out. Either people were so shocked and happy, or people would ignore us, shaking their heads and walking by. As people were ignoring us … or more significantly, the girls, I made a solemn vow to grab whatever anyone was trying to give me from now on!
The next day, I received this message …
Hi Tracie! Just wanted to share this with you..
Bennett and I were at the mall yesterday
and of course, I was kind-of rushing through
the holiday crowd to pick something up
(wanting to get in and out) and Bennett tugs o
my hand and said, “Mom, did you hear that?
Someone said they have free Starbucks cards.”
Not even turning around, I told him that it
was probably someone wanting you to buy
something, that nothing is ever for free.
Long story short, when I got home and read
your status, I explained to him that he was right
and it was the perfect opportunity to talk about
all the good that people have in them.
So I wanted to thank you for 1. Reminding me
that there is “good” out there, and
2. That I need to slow down and really listen!
I LOVED this note!! It’s exactly what I experienced from the other side of giving out the cards. And seriously, what another amazing lesson in how when you do something selflessly to bless others, you end up being blessed yourself!
The girls were watching TV recently and something came on explaining Advent … this particular activity was using candles to countdown Advent. I took the opportunity to talk about all the different ways people celebrate, and I even reminded them of our activity last year. When they asked what we’d do next year, I asked what they wanted to do.
Hands down and with excitement they quickly answered, “our kindness activity.” Yep! just like I always say … it’s far better to give than to receive!”
Praying a happy and blessed 2011 for you all!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
UPDATE {11.28.11}
I’ve created a blank RACK’ed activity card … the download can be found in this post. At the end of the post, you’ll find another link to other downloads.
Thank you … SO much … for the response to this little activity we did last year! I’m amazed and excited to think how many people will be blessed this year because of it! If you have a moment, be sure to stop by and let me know how it went for you! Have fun and be blessed!!
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This is the most amazing idea! I am a seventh grade girls small group leader and plan to do this with my girls throughout the Christmas season. Thank you for such an amazing advent idea!
Wow. How awesome. What a great thing to do. Gets me thinking of how I can rack this season!
I just bawled reading this post. I found it thru a pin by someone I follow on Pinterest.com. Recently I was homeless and relied heavily on the kindness of others and blessings of my church. Once I got back on my feet, I spent every moment and resource I had to give back to my community but I found that, at times, it was almost more of a job to be charitable than to work my regular job! Thank you for your beautiful example of selflessness and charity and thank you for teaching your children to not be afraid. I can’t wait to share this blog post with all of my friends and I can’t wait to follow your example this holiday season and “RACK” my community with love. xoxo -A Grateful Citizen
I absolutely LOVE this idea of RACK and your story with your girls is truly inspiring. If there was a way to print your RACK card for downloading, I bet lots of people would be more inclined to follow suit. Just a thought. Thanks for the inspiration!! Happy Holidays.
just another note that there are downloadable files in a recent post :: http://www.traciestierjohnson.com/rack-download-edition/
Thanks so much. So many of my friends are interested in doing this in Dec. your kindness is creating more kindness. Praise God! Merry Christmas!!!!
Incredible. I’m working to make this a challenge to our church. Thank you for sharing your ideas! What a great way to instill the true meaning of Christmas in kids.
What a great idea and how wonderful that you are teaching your children to give this way. Thanks for sharing.
I try to do this every Monday I heard it on the radio and have several little things. Like paying for the car behind u at a drivethru. Taking $5 gift cards – usually 4 of them from fast-food restaurants and giving them to people n telling them God lives them. Making a donation to goodwill etc. Makes me feel awesome n makes someone else’s day a bit brighter
love, love, love this idea! I get so lost in all the ‘to do’s’ of the season, that I just want to hurry up and get’em done. Although in some ways this seems like another ‘to do’, I think that this will help us to focus on what we are supposed to be doing, and the true meaning of the season. Thank you so much for sharing this idea, I love it!
Thank you for this amazing idea! I will be following your example and doing this example with my children this year! May God continue to bless you! xo
I am totally going to share this idea through my site, KamloopsParents.Com, if that is okay with you?
Thanks for the community-affecting inspiration :)
I was searching on the web for ideas to celebrate the holiday season.. thinking of giving little gifts to my kids.. your idea is so AWESOME, we are going to RACK instead…
Merry Christmas!
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Just ordered some RACK cards myself! Thanks for sharing.
Saw this on Pinterest and just gave me an idea for how to celebrate Advent this year. Thank you for sharing.
I love this and I am definently going to be starting this Dec 1st! Its little acts of kindness that go unnoticed by many that mean the most. Do you have a way to maybe download and print the racked cards? Thanks!
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This is the best idea I have seen in a while. I can’t wait to do some things myself. It won’t be as much as y’all did, but it will be something. I am now thinking of starting a “Racked Fund Savings Account” for next year, kind of like a Christmas fund except it’s for charity. I am so excited!
New to Pinterest and just saw this today. What a wonderful way to serve others. Also, a wonderful way to teach your children how to serve those that are less fortunate. Thank you for sharing.
I wanted to let you know that I came across a pin on pinterest.com that brought me to this page. I started a FB page for friends to do the same thing, which ultimately turned into this site:
http://rackd.tumblr.com
I am hoping that it will grow and will end up involving hundreds (and I’ll dream for thousands) of people. Please check it out and let me know what you think! Thank you SO very much for the inspiration to start something amazing!
I stumbled upon this through Pinterest, and thought “wow, what a nice idea!” until I read the actual card. Seems a little arrogant. Can’t you just go with something a little more generic, or even just leave it out? I for one would look beyond the good in this little deed and be angered by the fact that you are assuming everyone is a “child of God”. I don’t believe in god, but I believe in doing good selfless things for others, no matter the time of year. Happy holidays.
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Love this Tracie! Just posted a link to our FB fan page ( http://www.facebook.com/thebirthdayproject ). As you know once people start celebrating special occasions by giving to others, it never just ends with that one day. Kindness is not only contagious, it is is addicting! :) And the beautiful thing about marking birthdays, holidays & milestones like this is that even if the busy-ness of life creeps back in, we are always reminded to refocus the next time that special day comes back around!
Wonderful post, awesome inspiration.
Warmly,
Robyn
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I’m so glad I stumbled upon your blog and AWESOME idea. This is what I needed to see today. I’ve spent hours on the computer trying to find an advent activity to do with my teens and this is perfect. It was so easy when they were little and we made crafts/read all the holiday books and more. Now that they are older I really wanted to show them about giving this year. Thank you so much for the download and some of your ideas. My favorite is the library fees one. We live at the library and so this would be great. I had a question though, how did you do this one? Did you just stand there waiting till someone came up with and had a late fee?? Or did you go in and just ask the clerks to look up someone random name and donate it too them. Please send me an email letting me know how you did it because the kids will love this one. I better go get busy making my cards, so exciting. Oh and also did you do these everyday or do a few a day. It will be hard for us to do something like this daily with our homework and schedules??
I started my project before I stumbled on yours! So glad to see that Christmas cheer is spreading everywhere =]
http://christmaskindness2011.tumblr.com/
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Beautiful!!! THANKS SO MUCH for ALL the lessons you shared here. I pinned you and will pass out RACKs with my kids!
(((hugs)))
Leslie
found this to be such a fun idea! This has inspired me to do more acts of kindness! :) Thanks
One of your loyal followers pinned this and after reading, I just have to follow you! I seriously wait all year long for this time of year–I just wish more people took your approach rather than stressing out, shopping for that one perfect “have to have it” item each year and instead think about the people out there who need the really important things, like a blanket to keep warm or food in their belly for another day. THANK YOU for bringing this back to the forefront of our minds during a time when most of us have a hard time thinking outside of ourselves. GREAT post!
You are truely a beautiful person! What a fabulous thing to do and teach your children. We will be doing this as well this season! Thank You! and God Bless you and your family!
I have been SO inspired by this! It is truly special that you are beginning such a precious and relevant tradition! I sincerely cannot WAIT to start a tradition like this with my family someday. You are impacting the world one soul at a time, and it is a beautiful gift to give! Thank you for “blogging” about this! God bless!
I love this idea! I mentioned this post on my blog; I hope you don’t mind!
Wow! This just put me in the Christmas spirit!!! So glad I caught this today, I’m going to start tonight!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Hello!
I just wanted you to know what an amazing idea this is. As a family we have never done an advent. It is something I wanted to do every year but my chaotic life had me waiting until the last minute and by then I would just say forget it and I’ll do it next year. Well my oldest is 10 years old and today while I was driving into the city to pick something up for a friend I was racking my brain trying to figure out something to do and once again waiting until Dec. 1st to try and get something together. I came home and found your idea on Pinterest and ran to Wal-mart to buy candy canes determined to do it this year. So we used your download and my 3 year old and I taped candy canes and we will deliver them to car windshilds across our small town tonight before attending our 7 year olds Christmas party. I am so excited!!!!! :) Thank you for sharing your idea with the rest of us!
I love it when I hear of others paying it forward. We are so blessed and there are so many out there in pain. My family has done anonymous acts of kindness forever. Halloween, instead of them doing so much trick or treating, (they do some and I buy them a bag of their favorite candy) we make bags and take them to houses and say trick or treat and give them a treat. This has always been a lot of fun. When we go out to eat we pay double the tip. When we hear someone in passing saying they need help we give them an envelope with some money in it. At the toll road we pay for five people behind us. At Christmas we buy food for the hungry and toys for children who have nothing for Christmas. There are thousands of ways of paying it forward. Good job everyone. The world will be a better place because all of you are helping out. Just a smile can do wonders.
There needs to be more kind and thoughtful people in the world such as yourslelf and girls! Iam not very creative but you have inspired me (and many others) to do something this year.
Thanks you so much for sharing.
*Merry Christmas*
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Tracie…thank you so much for posting this!!! I came across your post on Pinterest a few weeks ago and couldn’t help but want the movement to grow even larger!! I developed a RACK’d card that’s available to download here [http://www.graphic-i.net/rackd.html] and have been trying to get the word out in my area via friends, Facebook and other media. The results are astounding me!!! Today we performed our first act, and I can’t wait to see what is yet to come. Thank you again!!
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I Love this idea, has been inspired and therefore can’t wait to share this to all my friends.
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I love this! Yesterday, I paid for the car behind me in the drive thru line- it was such a great feeling. I am going to borrow a couple of your ideas!
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I am plotting 30 Random Acts of Kindness for my 30th birthday, in January. Thank you for the great ideas. I love the “You’re been Racked” card. I need to think up something similar.