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!!
I cannot wait to try this!!! I am so excited to bless people and what a great idea!! I’ve been so blessed lately and it’s time to really give back :) Thank you for this awesome idea and more to come after RACKing :) God bless to you all!!!
Amazing! Awesome! So many words to describe this act of kindness! I cried while reading this! I HAVE to come up with an idea or two (from your list because it is great!) to try and do a few this Christmas season and would love to start doing this with our family! Our kids are older but I know they would love to do it! Thank you so much for sharing!! I found this on pinterest. Thanks again! I hope you and your family have the best holiday season!!!
Wow! I just want to share that this idea has blessed me a lot! I’m in South Korea, and I have been wanting something to do for the people here to show them through the Christmas season (and always) how much love God has for them. Thanks for the awesome ideas!! Of course, I will be getting a friend to write the RACK’d notes in Korean. My mom will be here for 2 weeks as well, so this will be so joyous to do together. Thanks for sharing this post, and continue strong spreading the BREAD!
Thia is a beautiful post!!!! It inspires me to do wonderful things like this! What a wonderful example this is to your girls :) God Bless!!
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Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. I can’t use this word enough to describe what an amazing, simple, wonderful idea you have done. I often think how small acts of kindness are so important (but don’t happen often enough). I also think it is super important for me to teach my little girl about kindness to strangers and I absolutely, positively love how you have done this with your family. I am stealing this to use throughout 2012. Thank you so much for posting!
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..made me cry…
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Loved this and shared it on my blog today. Thank you!!
Love your blog & your ideas! I cried while I read this! I saw it on Pinterest. I plan on doing some Racking this Christmas with my 5 year old. What a great lesson for everyone!! I’m also planning on doing 50 acts of kindness for my brother’s 50th birthday. He’s the kind of guy who has everything and when I saw this I just new this is what I wanted to do!! Thank you for reminding us there are wonderful, kind, giving mom’s teaching their kids what the important part of Christmas is!! ….and teaching us without even trying!!
Thank you! God bless & Merry Christmas!
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you are truly amazing! what a wonderful way to teach your children about the goodness of the heart. thank you for sharing! God bless!
Wow, thank you for sharing this. When I am in a drive thru I will pay for the people in the car behind me. It’s nice to see the smiling faces and they wave as I pull away. Sometimes though the people in the car have their scowls on not quite sure how to react. When I was a teenager, my parents were divorced and mom had a hard time just getting food on the table. One Thanksgiving we were going to cook spaghetti. That was fine by us, food is food. That morning there was a bag tied to a tree in the front yard. Inside were the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal complete with turkey. I’ve never forgotten that.
Thank you so much for being inspiring. I love this idea of RACKing and I will definitely add it to future activities.
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I love your idea of making it part of Advent. I have to believe that the Holy Spirit has inspired something here that is going to catch on with many people and lives are going to be changed. Thank you so much for sharing it. I too, found it on pinterest, and plan on using it myself and passing it on. Blessings to you.
Love your post!
You might be interested in the Kindness Challenge a group of us Minnesotans have come up with – challenging the people around the world to perform 1,000,000 acts of kindness worldwide during January, 2012. The challenge launches Jan 1, 2012!
Would love to have you and your readers take part. To participate in the Kindness Challenge, or learn more, we’re on Facebook, or check out our website at http://www.kindness-challenge.org.
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My grandchildren and I did the bell ringing. We donate toys and food as well. Thanks for the new ideas for next year. God bless!!
I love your idea but did not find it until Jan. While reading it I realized RACK could also be an acronym for Random Acts of Christian Kindness. I am sure someone else has already come up with it but to me it is a new idea. So thanks to your website i am going to start implementing some of your ideas to spread God’s love through out the years. RACKing is going to be so much fun.
i can use this! great for pay it forward!!
Several years ago our church youth group did something similar, just not a Christmas. The challenge came out to do something “Outrageously Outrageous”. Besides dropping off goodies to the older members of our church, they went to the local laundromat and helped people carry in their laundry. Then as they found which machine the person was using, they quickly put in the quarters for the machines and pushed them in to start the machine. They also had taken coffee, hot chocolate and pastries there that morning and handed those out… then helped take the laundry back to the cars. My encouragement is to not wait until Christmas to do something like this… people need to be reminded all year long that they are cared about and prayed for.
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I just found your RACK on Pinterest last night. Thanks for giving so much pleasure and happiness to strangers. Just wanted to know I plan on doing it in 12-12.
Love this post and the idea! Where did you get the tape you used? It is so cute!
LOVE IT!!!!Already showed it to my hubby and he too thinks this is a great idea. I cant wait to this next christmas with my kids but I think I might do a verson of it this spring or summer with the girls I teach at our church. Thanks so much for your time to create and post all of this, your girls are so blessed to have you as a mom.
Thanks for this great post! I’ve been wanting to do something like this with my kids and your post is chock full of great ideas!
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Tracie – I was going through some of my favorites from your blog – and I ran across this RACKed from a couple of years ago. My resolution for this year was to be more positive and surround myself with more positive people and acts – so that there is no room for the evil one to find a place to dwell in me.
By chance-I brought donuts in for my co-workers this morning – something I haven’t done in quite some time and people were asking the reason for the treat. And, my answer was because——
I just feel the people that reach out and touch me daily need to be reminded how much I appreciate them. Hopefully this little bit of giving back to them will bless their day and spread those blessings to other people as they go about their work day and enter into their weekend. So – your RACKed from a couple of years ago has touched my heart today and reminded me that this is the way it should always be. Opening a door for someone – telling someone to have a nice day – you look so nice today – hey – I brought in donuts – all of these small things can create ordinary miracles every day.
Thanks for reminding me – I’ve been needing that gentle reminder – tough times lately.
Betty
I’m so glad I came across this. Thank you, Thank you for the ideas. I am definitely doing some of these for my Giving Birthday party this year.
Thank you so much for your inspiration! My family always participates in Pay it Forward around Christmas time. Actually, my Dad started a tradition (after I was grown) of putting something in our stocking that we could use to participate in Pay it Forward. It is always fun and rewarding to do that. I think I am going to do this year round and not just at Christmas time. Maybe my family will set aside 1 or 2 days a month to participate in Paying it Forward. Thanks again for the inspiration and I love the ideas that you had.
I love this idea! such a great way to get the kids involved! I will be doing this for christmas!
Wow!!! I have to say reading through this brought a tear to my eye. I absolutely am right there with you. I LOVE doing things for other people during the holiday season. I prefer making handmade gifts as opposed to store bought. I feel handmade gifts show much more love and thought then store bought items. My husband and I also try to donate to Toys 4 Tots every year as much as we can. And now that I have my daughter who is now 1.5 yrs old, I want to start installing our values of what the season is really about into her. It’s a breath of fresh air when I see others showing the kindness you have here even if the kind others show is not alot. To someone, even opening a door is a great kindness. Thank you for showing how wonderful people can be you and your children are just that, Wonderful :-)
My dad grew up in an orphanage when he was younger and now as an adult he gives a lot of time and energy (and some money) to the organization. As a young adult I always helped him in whatever he was doing, as a new mom I am hoping to show my son that it doesn’t take a lot to make a difference in someone’s day. I love your list and it has inspired me to do RAKs through the year. Making it a Christmas and a birthday tradition.
Oh, Tracie, I feel I’ve been RACKed online! :) Thank you for sharing this wonderful ‘act’. I would love to do this with my grandkids, not only at Christmas, but as BJ said, throughout the year (Random Acts of Christian Kindness). This is also something my husband and I can do together. I’m so touched, and this has brought tears of joy!
God bless you! Debbie
I love this, My sister who turned 30 in April did not want a big party(so sad for me,being the party planner in the family) but wanted to do 30 Acts of Kindness.We live in a very small town where everyone knows everyone. But we did it and of course She told meI had to help(I am also the crafty one of the family) After we did all the acts i felt great. I am so the advent one this yr.. Thanks for the great post.
I was lurking on pinterest when I found a post about your Random Acts. I followed the link to your blog so I could read & get some ideas. It was very inspiring! I was tearing up while reading, hoping that I might be able to convince my 17 year old to be less selfish & think of others. And while I don’t have the financial means to do many of the wonderful things you did, I’m certain this will help me come up with things we CAN do. Thank you!
okay, I really want to do this, like now, not just for Christmas, but most of yours include spending money (which isn’t plentiful right now). I love the one about purging your personal library (your children’s) for books to donate, any other suggestions like this one?
Just looking at your RACK post and wanted to make sure you know putting quarters in parking meters is actually illegal in most places. Check your city ordinances and be careful posting picture evidence!
What a nice idea! Thank you. We’re sooo doing this on Dec 2012. My kids will definitely love this.
Hmmm, wouldn’t it be more selfless to do this anonymously rather than blog and facebook about it, telling everyone what you’re doing and how much you’re spending? While it is absolutely wonderful that you ARE doing these things and raising your kids to be so thoughtful, it seems more like a “look at how good I am” rather than the satisfaction of knowing that you and only you really made some stranger’s day.
Thank you : )
I just found your post on Pinterest and I love it. This summer I decided to have one day full of acts of kindness and you’ve given me so many more ideas. We donate to The Pajama Program twice a year and my older son wants to actually give the kids the PJ’s but that’s not really how it works, this is the perfect opportunity for him to actually get to experience kindness. Thank you!
While someone said you should have done this without posting about it, I believe you have inspired others to do these acts…thank you
I sooooo love this idea. I try to teach my girls to give and share with those who haven’t got as much as we do. But all of my attempts so far has been very random. I pray that you and your family are blessed with as much love as you bring to others. But I already know you are, because that’s the blessing of giving! Ohhh and to the question of posting, not posting, You have inspired me to do good and lots of others, and to quote mother Terresa: “If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway!”
What an awesome idea!!! The lessons you have taught your children will follow them for the rest of their lives!! Not only do you absolutely ROCK, but you have inspired me to try a few RACKs thus Christmas season!!!
And by “thus” I mean this….~sigh~