I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty,
and you gave me something to drink.
I was alone and away from home,
and you invited me into your house.
I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear.
I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.
“Then the good people will answer,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food,
or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you alone and away from home
and invite you into our house?
When did we see you without clothes and
give you something to wear?
When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’
Then the King will answer,
‘I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the
least of my people here, you also did for me.'”
Matthew 25:35-40 {NCV}
As I was listening to the radio the other day, the DJ shared her thoughts about losing faith in humanity and their capacity to care for others. Especially during this Christmas season. She went on to share a story she’d read about recently that gave her hope.
A woman went into a big box store, walked over to the layaway department and told them she wanted to pay off a certain number of people’s layaway accounts. And she did. But she left just $10.00 on each account, so when they came to pay, they would feel they contributed to their gifts too.
I can’t begin to explain the warmth I felt when hearing this story. It made me think of our Random Acts of Christmas Kindness project and I couldn’t help but wonder if this woman had gotten a hold of it and performed her own RACK. The RACK project has been global this year. Global! I’ve gotten emails and encouragement from South Korea to Australia. This isn’t about promoting “my project” … it’s about promoting Kindness. His Love. “I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you did also for ME.”
In our own hustle and bustle of the Season, it’s easy to pass by someone whose only need might be a kind smile.
I’d like to share the outcome of our recent giving project with you. As I mentioned, it was so hard to choose. My heart broke over every request and it felt like I didn’t have a right to play God and decide who should receive and who shouldn’t. Guess I didn’t think about that when I posted the request. In the end, I enlisted Taylor’s help and she narrowed it down with me. We ended up giving a lot more than we set out to do, but it was too difficult to “turn people away.” A couple of people sent photos of the recipients who were blessed … looking at those photos and knowing, not just the blessing, but the hope they received … brought tears to my eyes.
I’ve said many times and believe with all my being … the Lord has greatly blessed me, how can I not turn around and share that blessing with others?
In the end, I didn’t share our giving details with the littles. Wynter’s heart, especially, was fragile this year. She was in tears recently claiming she didn’t want any Christmas gifts and to give them to others who needed them. I don’t know … maybe I should’ve shared who was blessed, so she could see the good … and maybe I will someday … but right now my mama heart is protecting her fragile heart.
Anyway.
I know not everyone can walk in and pay off numerous people’s layaways. But everyone can have a caring, giving heart. Everyone, no matter how destitute, has something they can do or share with others.
There were some kind acts that came out of our project that I’d like to share:
- A few families, who I know are in need for themselves this Christmas, nominated someone else whose needs are greater. I saw love and sacrifice in that.
- A couple of readers contacted me that they’d like to give as well. And to let them know of some of the smaller needs and they’d like to help meet them. {I’ll be in touch with you ladies!}
We’ve been commanded to love others as ourselves.
If people say, “I love God,” but hate their brothers or sisters,
they are liars. Those who do not love their brothers and sisters,
whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have never seen.
And God gave us this command:
Those who love God must also love their brothers and sisters.
1 John 4:19-21 {NCV}
Showing kindness, love, compassion, caring … they don’t have to be grand acts and big gestures. Love can be shown in the smallest of ways. As quickly as a harsh word or evil glare can cut a heart … a smile or kind word can put a heart back together.
What can you do … just one small act, to show God’s love today?
I saw a clip online about the Kmart layaways being paid off – apparently it’s happening quite a bit at Kmart stores! – and I was going to send you the link. It totally sounded like something you and your girls would enjoy doing as an act of love to others.
Last night as I was tucking my 4 year old in he said “Mama, we need to buy Isaac {an 11 yr old boy} a chocolate bar and wrap it up fancy and give it to him. He needs to know we love him.” It was so, so sweet. And chocolate bar was added to my grocery list :)
Hi Tracie,
I’ve just recently started reading your blog and I’m amazed at the way you Blessed people! I was encouraged this year to do the RACK’ed with my own two daughters and I have to just tell you I’ve been amazed and in ah of this! I feel like we are the ones that have been Blessed by this and my daughters have experience so much through this that we would not have experienced otherwise. I’ve seen their hearts grow for giving and I think that is the BEST Blessing of all for me as a mom!
Thank so much for sharing this with us!
In church yesterday, our pastor reminded us that there are many people in need all through the year. Here is a group in Minnesota that is trying to promote more random acts of kindness into the new year: https://www.facebook.com/#!/kindnesschallenge
I think I’m going to buy some flowers for my mom because she really deserves it :) You are such a kind soul Tracie for giving and for doing all you do, thank you. Hope you’re enjoying every moment of your Exuma trip!
You inspired my daughter, Misty to do Rack’s this year. She then inspired our family so her sister and I joined her in Racking people this year. Then she shared with our congregation and our pastor got involved and has been heavily encouraging everyone to do Rack’s. We now plan to take this beyond Christmas into the new year, and although we may not do it for 25 days straight, we will continue to Rack (Random Acts of Christian Kindness) all year long. Thank you for all you do and for inspiring so many to carry on your brilliant idea!
love is patient, love is kind… 1 Corinthians 13 starts. thank you for always helping me focus on God’s words. He tells us what love is and you always help me understand it and you try to live it everyday. thank you friend.
I am so glad that I found your site through Pinterest. I really needed to find you today. As much as I hate to admit it I have been feeling a bit sorry for myself lately and spending far too much time daydreaming about heaven. I just think if I could get there I would be so happy and have so many love ones and friends there to see. And of course I would not have Lupus controlling my life in heaven. After spending the entire morning going through your site and looking at pictures and reading the comments of others I feel my joy coming back. I have let my health steal my joy. Now I am not trying to act like I have overcome all and am a new person all of a sudden, but I can honestly say that I am excited and feel I can make a difference. Even on those days that I can not seem to get out of bed I can find a way to send someone in need a card. I use to have a card ministry and they are still delivered every month. I have a backlog well over 100. I am ashamed that I have just stopped sending them out. I also love your RACK ministry. It is great. I think when I head out to the doctor later I will stop and pick up 3 or 4 dozen cookies to take to the post office when I mail my cards. My neighborhood post office is at the end of my street and they are kind, hard working people. I just never really thought about doing something for them. And my wonderful Vet that has taken care of all my precious Great Danes through the years, I definitely need to do something for them. Tracie Stier-Johnson you have inspired me and renewed my hope. I thank you my new friend. May God bless you and yours this Christmas and through the new year. Pam