True Giving includes performing acts of kindness and making a positive difference in the lives of people.
Simple Acts of Kindness can change lives and leave a lasting impression.
Recently I was talking to an old friend who was visiting the UK with her children for the first time.
At some point, we were reminiscing about the past and her humble beginnings.
My friend shared memories of how I had encouraged, motivated, inspired and supported her financially, emotionally and spiritually when we were younger.
As our conversation progressed, she tried to remind me of some of the things I had done to support her in the past, most of which I still do not remember.
She said I had bought her a new phone and phone line at some point when she could not afford it.
She also mentioned I had traveled about 2 hours to give her some money when her sister was getting married and her family did not have money to buy or do some of the things she needed.
Then she talked about how I had firmly encouraged her to get her degree in her late twenties when she felt it was too late. She mentioned I had told her that if my mother could get her degree in her fifties, then she had no excuse.
I was also reminded of how I had regularly invited her to stay over at my family home at different times and shared everything with her.
I had completely forgotten about most of the things she talked about as they happened over a decade ago. However, it got me thinking how important it is to live our lives on purpose and help others along the way.
A Model for Acts of Kindness
There is a Yoruba parable that literally translates “he who defecates may not remember but he who had to clean up the mess will always remember”. This means that whatever good or bad we do to people they will always remember even when we do not remember.
Every year, my church, New Wine Church donates over a thousand Christmas hampers to less privileged people in their local community to ensure they can have a good Christmas dinner and some essential food supplies over the Christmas holiday. See Ruby’s testimony below:
New Wine Church also runs a Saturday Breakfast Club where less privileged people in the community can come to have a meal and fellowship together in a loving atmosphere.
They also run a lot of projects and initiatives to support not just members of the church, but also the local and global community. This organisation makes a difference by performing Acts of Kindness.
Practice Acts of Kindness
One of my philosophies is that “No one person can change the world, but we all can change the world if we would each start by changing the world one person at a time”.
Get some practice on performing acts of kindness by starting with your family and friends.
Perhaps you just need to be kinder to your spouse or children or siblings or parents or friends.
Ask your parents how you can help to make their lives easier. It could be that all you need to do is just value your loved ones more, call more often and spend more time with them.
Offer to help your child with their homework or school project despite your busy schedule, or offer to tidy their room with them. You can also deliberately schedule some time when all you do is talk and play with your children.
You could also provide emotional, mental, physical or financial support to a friend in need.
Engage in Acts of Kindness
True Giving includes performing acts of kindness and making a positive difference in the lives of people.
Over time, you will find it easier to help other people in your local/work/church communities too. However, sometimes you have to ask people how you can be of service to them. You may be surprised to find out you can help them with little things that can make a huge difference to them.
Start by looking around to see what you can do for someone close to you and asking someone how you can help.
How have you performed acts of kindness to people?
Do you have any tips on some acts of kindness people can engage in that you would be happy to share?
Please let us know in the Comments section below.
A Walk on Water Moment with Stella Onogoro
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