"A kind and compassionate act is often it's own reward." - William John Bennett
So...I know, I haven't blogged in two days and I feel bad.
But I have been very, very busy this weekend!
It seems that I have been shown more kindness than I have shown, these last couple days.
I am blessed :)
So, here is a quick synopsis:
Sabbath - What a wonderful day! I was invited to Whitney and Brandon's house, (Katie's brother and his wife) for Sabbath lunch. We ate the most incredible potato/corn chowder ever, with yummy bread and LAUGHING COW CHEESE SPREAD! Yummmmmmmm. Then, Beth modeled for my photography project! We were going to make her into a boxer, with big gloves, black eye, and all. But no gloves could be found. Sigh.
BUT, we made her into an abused woman instead so we could still giver her a fake black eye :) We gave her fake cuts and bruises, and it looked pretty convincing. She did such a great job, and was SO SWEET to do it for me, since she could have been sleeping instead - haha. Then we went to Red Robin for supper, and though we college students are poor as everyone knows, I bought Beth's supper because she was so nice to model for me, especially since she had to get strange makeup put all over her!
Sunday - Most of Sunday was spent in the darkroom developing photos! It was the first time I had ever done it, so I was a little nervous. But the lab assistant, Chelsea, was the nicest person about it, and was very patient with me. Thanks to her help, I got a beautiful print that I will HOPEFULLY get an A on! Poor Brittany has to work from 2 to 10 on Sunday, so I went to get her a drink from Sonic as a kind deed, but after I arrived there, I realized I had forgotten my money! Foiled once again. :( But maybe today made up for that - ha! Also, Katie (my roommate) my the sweetest note for me, telling me I am pretty much the best lol :) I know such nice people!
Today (Monday) - In honor of MLK JR. Day, SAU has an annual Community Service Day, when students can sign up for various places to serve. This year's theme was "We serve because HE served". I went on the outreach project called West Side for Jesus, which is where students go into the projects to play with kids, go door to door, etc. But today we painted a huge room and did maintenance in the playground of a daycare center. It was so much fun - it only took us 4 hours to paint an approximately 40x40 room! When we finished, the lady that runs the place was almost in tears with gratitude, because the room had been cluttered and need of work for almost eight months - she just didn't have anyone to help her. It didn't hurt us any to take a day out of our busy week to reach out to the community! Some students don't even do it - only 600 out of almost 3000! I think that's pitiful. I think the entire student body should be involved - they even give us worship and convocation credit! If the students who didn't help could have seen the lady's face, they might have decided to help out. I then went to Sonic and bought drinks for Brittany, Ben, and Katie. And myself.
And thus, it was been very busy! But I have been blessed many times over the last couple days, and hopefully I have been part of a blessing to someone else.
I usually have some sort of deep thought for you, but I think the paint fumes clouded my mind - it isn't working very well right about now. Not to mention all the photolab chemicals yesterday!
...
I'm surprised I haven't been committed!
I leave you with a quote:
"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." - William James
How true that is!
6 days down, 100 to go :)
Showing posts with label kindness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kindness. Show all posts
Monday, January 18, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
A Still, Small Voice
"My hope for my children, [family, friends, etc.] must be that they respond to the still, small voice of God in their own hearts." - Andrew Young
Today was a day of resolvement, and of discovery.
The past few acts of inspired kindness were highly emotional - I would feel a very strong impression to do them.
But today I found myself doing one and then realizing that I was doing it.
On the way to Superior Camera with Brittany, Ben, and our friend Nefty, it was apparent that Brittany was having some struggles with a friend. She was tired, and laid down in the back seat, with her head resting on my lap. I began to stroke her hair - all of us ladies know that it greatly reduces stress to have someone play with your hair.
It wasn't until she sat up again that I realized that I had shown her an act of kindness. It was a very simple, uncomplicated thing to do. But we do not have to hear a voice as loud as a shout or feel something - it can be the unconscious urging of the Holy Spirit.
Only four days into my challenge, and God is already helping me be unselfish!
I don't want this to seem like a self righteous thing - but I just want to share how God is working in me!
So no great stories about saving homeless people from starvation today ;)
And now Brittany is here in my room and I am feeding her fattening comfort food.
I am so glad that I have been given this opportunity!
So no ramblings about the world's problems today - simply, Happy Sabbath to you and yours.
Oh, and they fixed my camera! Yay :)
"Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy." - Exodus 20:8
Today was a day of resolvement, and of discovery.
The past few acts of inspired kindness were highly emotional - I would feel a very strong impression to do them.
But today I found myself doing one and then realizing that I was doing it.
On the way to Superior Camera with Brittany, Ben, and our friend Nefty, it was apparent that Brittany was having some struggles with a friend. She was tired, and laid down in the back seat, with her head resting on my lap. I began to stroke her hair - all of us ladies know that it greatly reduces stress to have someone play with your hair.
It wasn't until she sat up again that I realized that I had shown her an act of kindness. It was a very simple, uncomplicated thing to do. But we do not have to hear a voice as loud as a shout or feel something - it can be the unconscious urging of the Holy Spirit.
Only four days into my challenge, and God is already helping me be unselfish!
I don't want this to seem like a self righteous thing - but I just want to share how God is working in me!
So no great stories about saving homeless people from starvation today ;)
And now Brittany is here in my room and I am feeding her fattening comfort food.
I am so glad that I have been given this opportunity!
So no ramblings about the world's problems today - simply, Happy Sabbath to you and yours.
Oh, and they fixed my camera! Yay :)
"Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy." - Exodus 20:8
Thursday, January 14, 2010
A Roaring Lion
"If you stop struggling, you stop life." - Huey Newton
Today, everything was against me.
I do not want to delve into the complexity and depth of it all because it is that bad.
I don't know what I did to deserve this pain and misery.
D:
Where to begin? I will try to shorten this.
Last week, I ordered a film camera for my Intro to Photography class.
It was delayed by FedEx.
It came late.
It didn't have a battery.
I ordered a battery - overnighted it.
It didn't come.
They say they didn't get my order.
I had to explain this to my professor, who I am sure is fed up with me by now.
I am fed up with myself.
I am fed up with FedEx.
I went to Battery Plus.
I put the battery in the camera.
It worked great.
I pushed the shutter release button.
It froze.
I tried to put film in it.
It stayed frozen.
I fear I broke it.
I have to go the the darkroom on Sunday at 2.
I will never be done by then unless Superior Camera can fix my camera.
...
that leaves out many arduous details, but you get the gist.
All of this agony and stress goes to prove a point.
Satan knows about my project.
He wants to do everything in his power to stop me.
He has been throwing things like this at me all day in hopes to discourage me from my mission.
But guess what?
I AM NOT GOING TO LET HIM WIN!
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8
Satan wants to bog me down in feeling sorry for myself so I will stay the self-centered person that I am, and thus stifle my growth in Christ. And keep me from finishing my project.
Thank God that the day did not end there!
As I, my brother, and friend Brittany drove to Battery Plus, a homeless man was sitting on the corner. We stopped at the red light at the corner, and then, there it was - the urge to do something for him.
I thought to myself "no, he'll probably use it for alcohol or something".
And then I remember that it is not my place to predestine this man to sin - if he chooses to do that, all I can do is pray for him. I shouldn't NOT help him just because of what he MIGHT do.
And so, I hurriedly fished through my ginormous purse for my wallet fearing that the red light would soon turn to green.
We handed him the money, and he just about jumped out of his skin with gratitude.
That man would have to be the greatest actor in planet Earth's history if he secretly planned to use the money for bad things.
He told us that he had just lost his job and thus lost his home. He then proceeded to clasp his hands in prayer and say "thank you Lord", and told us that we gave him hope.
The man then ran across the street to a McDonald's.
If we had driven past that man, I would have missed out on so much.
It really is more blessing to oneself to give than receive. I felt so happy, like I had really helped someone who REALLY need it.
That is a feeling that NO HARDSHIP can keep me from pursuing.
"When difficulties are overcome, they begin blessing." - Traditional Proverb
Today, everything was against me.
I do not want to delve into the complexity and depth of it all because it is that bad.
I don't know what I did to deserve this pain and misery.
D:
Where to begin? I will try to shorten this.
Last week, I ordered a film camera for my Intro to Photography class.
It was delayed by FedEx.
It came late.
It didn't have a battery.
I ordered a battery - overnighted it.
It didn't come.
They say they didn't get my order.
I had to explain this to my professor, who I am sure is fed up with me by now.
I am fed up with myself.
I am fed up with FedEx.
I went to Battery Plus.
I put the battery in the camera.
It worked great.
I pushed the shutter release button.
It froze.
I tried to put film in it.
It stayed frozen.
I fear I broke it.
I have to go the the darkroom on Sunday at 2.
I will never be done by then unless Superior Camera can fix my camera.
...
that leaves out many arduous details, but you get the gist.
All of this agony and stress goes to prove a point.
Satan knows about my project.
He wants to do everything in his power to stop me.
He has been throwing things like this at me all day in hopes to discourage me from my mission.
But guess what?
I AM NOT GOING TO LET HIM WIN!
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8
Satan wants to bog me down in feeling sorry for myself so I will stay the self-centered person that I am, and thus stifle my growth in Christ. And keep me from finishing my project.
Thank God that the day did not end there!
As I, my brother, and friend Brittany drove to Battery Plus, a homeless man was sitting on the corner. We stopped at the red light at the corner, and then, there it was - the urge to do something for him.
I thought to myself "no, he'll probably use it for alcohol or something".
And then I remember that it is not my place to predestine this man to sin - if he chooses to do that, all I can do is pray for him. I shouldn't NOT help him just because of what he MIGHT do.
And so, I hurriedly fished through my ginormous purse for my wallet fearing that the red light would soon turn to green.
We handed him the money, and he just about jumped out of his skin with gratitude.
That man would have to be the greatest actor in planet Earth's history if he secretly planned to use the money for bad things.
He told us that he had just lost his job and thus lost his home. He then proceeded to clasp his hands in prayer and say "thank you Lord", and told us that we gave him hope.
The man then ran across the street to a McDonald's.
If we had driven past that man, I would have missed out on so much.
It really is more blessing to oneself to give than receive. I felt so happy, like I had really helped someone who REALLY need it.
That is a feeling that NO HARDSHIP can keep me from pursuing.
"When difficulties are overcome, they begin blessing." - Traditional Proverb
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