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. The idea was to do just one thing each day... with this card attach to the gift/service given.
I have to say … 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 or flat out saying 'no', as if we were giving them the plague. Truly I think many of them thought we were selling something. In fact... many times we would preface our words with 'free' and as they took the gift, would still say "what do I owe you?". This all the more re-assured me that we needed to be doing what we were doing. As people were ignoring us … or more significantly, the girls, I made a solemn vow to love on people all the more! Here is a summary of our adventure in reverse order. While our goal was to make it all 25 days, when I got sick Christmas eve.... we called it quits after 23. I have to say I am proud of our accomplishments!
RACKed day 23: cookies and soft fuzzy puppy to my dear friend recovering from surgery this AM. Heal fast Bec!!!
RACKed day 22: Passed out packages of sugar cookies to construction workers on the side of the road. Got the usual "what do I owe u". To their delight...we are not girl scouts...just spreading some love. Got back to the car and realized I forgot one package. Shoot. As I drove a few blocks...I saw a man walking. Clearly homeless. Pulled over and asked him if I could offer him some cookies. He said "sure" and read the card with a smile. God had a plan for that extra pack of cookies!
RACKed day 21: with the help of our friendly neighborhood pharmacist, we paid for the prescription of an elderly man who couldn't afford it. The girls are holding an empty bag just as a memory of our RACK :)
RACKed day 20: Almost called today my last day of RACKed for the season.. for the classic, stupid reasons like "I'm too busy" "I'm tired" "My shopping isn't done" "Money is tight" blah blah... but now I feel too rewarded to stop! Today we bought Gift cards at the store to pay for groceries for the elderly. We walked through the store and Kailey found a single elderly gentleman looked for a good... 10 minutes at TV dinners. We gave him the RACKed card and gift card... he said "Thank you... Thank you VERY much". He was truly grateful. Lexi found an elderly couple... literally shuffling through the isles together. Cutest couple! Lexi too handed them the gift card and RACKed card. The man said, "Well now you don't see that every day... (pause).. and in the name of Jesus.. (pause).. Good choice." Priceless. They too were so grateful and touched. Amazing moment for my girls; they were blessed by with chance to meet some deserving, kind people. Our elderly are not loved on enough... No excuses... I will be thinking of more opportunities to serve them this week!
RACKed day 19: Took home made pot of soup and rolls to my neighbor and friend after she had foot surgery.
RACKed day 18: Delivered gifts for kids in need to the giving tree at church. 18 days into this adventure....and I think I got RACKed today myself.... I had to wait to order a Christmas gift online until pay day, which I later realized was after the coupon expired...costing me an extra $36. Ugh. Called today to just see if by chance they would honor it even though I could not get it by Christmas...she said yes....I was shocked....then she added that she would overnight it to me for free (a $50 value!) So I'd have it for Christmas. WHAT!!! Who does that?!?! I thought I missunderstood her because her accent was thick...but no...God blessed me today with a sweet lady at Snapfish!! Amen!
RACKed day 17: The girls passed out mini-purses with chocolate and gift cards to Subway to kids they met as we walked through stores shopping ;). Some pretty surprised families ;)
RACKed day 16: Kailey baked Christmas treats with Gramma and delivered them to an early staff meeting :)
RACKed day 15: picked out and delivered a coat for a 14 year old boy in need.
RACKed day 14: Kailey & Lexi RACKed their gymnastics coaches with a stocking full of stickers, magnets, hair clips/bands & hair glitter to replenish their supply that they use daily with all the girls on team.
RACKed day 13 - Delivered a stack of American Girl books to the school librarian who was in need after Miss Washington announced to the whole school at an awards assembly that the series is her favorite for girls and now there is a run on them at the library. Happy reading Pope girls ;)
RACKed day 12: Baby its cold outside & Windows are frozen. Getting up early to scrape car windows should warm a few hearts ;). We even RACKed Daddy before he got up ;)
RACKed day 11: Visited a nursing home, sang Christmas songs to the residents and gave them, cookies, Christmas cards and hugs : ) One completely immobile gentleman had a tear running down his cheek. One elderly lady thanked us a million times and hugged Kailey over and over again! We are blessed to have shared time with them. It is clear they are lonely... praying God brings them more visitors and more hugs!
RACKed day 10 - wrapped children's Bibles and left them on door steps of homes identifiable as having small kids (bikes, wagons etc in yard).
RACKed day 9: Lexi is checking out the quarters in her hand instead of the camera....but that's ok. The girls did a great job of RACKin the rides at the mall so kids could have a free ride for Jesus' b-day!
RACKed day 8: Kailey LOVES to bring her teachers coffee. She has been missing her previous teachers and requested they be on the list of people we Suprise. Sooo... Hunt teachers...you have been RACKed ;)
RACKed day 7: brownies for postal workers and coloring books for kids in line ;)
RACKed day 6 - delivered a fruit basket to the front door of a moble home in a lower income neighborhood. No idea who's porch it was....but praying they enjoy ;)
RACKed day 5. Taped quarters to machines at the laundry mat ;)
RACKed day 4.... hung a Christmas bulb chandalier from the ceiling of a friends house in the kitchen in a bare space above the island that was calling for Christmas cheer while they were out as a suprise. No I didn't 'break and enter'. Waited till they left and the sitter let me in : ) They have been RACKed and don't even know it yet.. hehehe. Here is a pic but it is at an odd angle so as not identifiable ; )
RACKed day 3....lovin on some people by passing out some hot chocolate while waiting in freezing cold for Santa Parade!!
Two sweet kids at Safeway just got RACKed. Lexi found a little girl with her dad and Kailey found a little boy walking to the bus with his mom. Both parents were surprised and grateful...the kids were confused but excited. Gave them wrapped books of the Christmas story. RACKed day 2 a success!
Let the RACKin begin!!! Kailey is on her way to RACK her teacher with Starbucks! This is what is REALLY all about!
