Watch Joy's Last Challenge of the Summer!

When I set out on a journey this summer to do random acts of kindness each week, I never imagined how much joy it would bubble up inside of me. It’s truly so fun to even plan out and execute a kind surprise for someone else.

Everyone has different financial situations but it could be as simple as a smile, a text, or a kind word to someone.

Here are the 4 things I learned doing random acts of kindness all summer long:

Small encouragement can have a BIG impact.

I knew these kind acts would make people smile, but I never dreamed how they could be the catalyst to remind someone they are seen. Most people carry much more than we can see. Something as small as a kind word, a handwritten note, some flowers, or their favorite drink can make them feel cared for. Underneath each random act of kindness is the message that someone matters and is worth celebrating. It’s truly a Biblical concept from Psalm 139: 13 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

And Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”

If every human is made in the image of God, then they have inherent value and should be treated with dignity and respect. But as a person of faith, I want to go above and beyond mere respect and celebrate those around me to remind them they are loved by Jesus.

Even planning a surprise for someone else gives you so much joy

If you’ve ever been a part of a surprise party, then you know the excitement that builds from preparing to delight someone else. I knew the execution of these kind acts would also make me feel some of the joy I was spreading. But even prepping each week, was more fun than I expected. Sometimes I was even nervous, (example: see our visit to the assisted living center below,) but that make it all the more exciting! Thinking of a way to make someone else smile can have the same effect on you and you get to enjoy it longer as you plan, prepare, and execute it.

Random acts of kindness can easily start spiritual conversations.

I should have seen this one coming, but I didn’t. When we took flowers to the assisted living center. They wanted to know why I was there passing them out. Without thinking I replied, “I wanted to share the love of Jesus with people this summer.” That one phrase prompted several conversation about my faith and how I found it. When people see us living out what we believe, they notice and get curious. In a world that is typically negative, it’s a brave thing to choose joy and share that with others. I wasn’t even prepared to have a spiritual conversation that day and got pretty nervous, but I simply shared what Jesus means to me. (You can see the video of one of those conversations below.)

Random acts of kindness are the healthiest distraction from the hard stuff.

It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut of doing the same things each week while focusing on your own problems. I had never visited a fire department before and hadn’t sent a handwritten note in the mail in forever! These simple kind acts pushed me in new ways and helped make memories I will cherish this summer. This is a simple way to get you out of your comfort zone. It can give your pain a moment to breathe while focusing on others. These acts of kindness can heal you as you help.

God can use an act of kindness at the perfect time in someone’s life. One week’s challenge was to write a handwritten note to a friend. While my letter was in transit, my friend who would be receiving it fell and got hurt really badly. While in recovery, the letter landed in her mailbox exactly when she needed encouragement. I have no idea who bought the box of diapers with cash stuffed in it from week 2 but I trust God’s timing was perfect for them as well. Doing kind things without seeing the immediate result allows your heart to dream about the ripple effects of that one moment in time and how God may use it.

See the Email I Sent About Wally

Watch Our Visit to the Fire Station