Day #10 – Fix It, Tack It, Nail It! Or, Not.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Friday, February 27, 2015

Day #10 – Fix It, Tack It, Nail It! Or, Not.

Today’s suggestion? I loved it! It’s almost second nature for me to be helpful. Be of service. Be kind. As a matter of fact, I wrote a blog in 2014 called A Year of Being Kind: 365 Days of Service. (at ayearofbeingkind.wordpress.com) This blog told about my adventures with kindness, service and being helpful, each day. I was successful in making blog entries every single day in 2014, including Feature Fridays, when I would feature someone else being kind.

But, enough about my blog. My other blog, that is.

As I said before, I loved this post from 40acts today. I really wanted to do something for someone else, but stuff happened. I became preoccupied for most of the afternoon, and my plans of the morning never got carried out. (I would appreciate some prayer. The situation is continuing, and God knows what it is. Thanks so much. You are awesome. Seriously.)

This got me to thinking as the evening was drawing to a close: what if I don’t have time to complete today’s suggestion? What if I can’t, or for some reason, unable to complete it?

Actually, I did do a kind act. I went to the jam-packed YMCA this morning. After exercising and before I left, I took a quick shower. I noticed one of the bathroom stalls did not have toilet paper. On my way out, I mentioned the need to one of the janitorial staff. (And believe me, it was a need, with such a crowd there this morning!)

The staff member was very grateful I had spoken up! And, I knew I was doing a kind deed. Not quite on the level of Bear Grylls, but still, I can tell you that many women go in and out of those locker room bathrooms! So many, in fact, the paper supplies must be supplied frequently. I’m glad I was there to make note of the need, and to suggest that the janitor changed things. Like the toilet paper. I was heartily glad I could help. Thank God!

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

(Check out #40acts; doing Lent generously at www.40acts.org.uk )

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And read #40acts sermons sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er .

(also published at www.matterofprayer.net

Day #4 – Surprise! A Day to Be Generous! Prayerfully.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Saturday, February 21, 2015

Day #4 – Surprise! A Day to Be Generous! Prayerfully.

When I checked my email this morning before I left the house, I saw this generosity suggestion from #40acts. Hmm. I remember commenting to God—not specifically praying, mind you—“Gee, I wonder who I might be generous to, today?”

This suggestion is similar to times I blogged about in my daily blog last year, A Year of Being Kind (at wordpress.com). Many of the situations I saw as I looked over the kids’ 40acts calendar for Lent 2015 were similar, actually. I look upon that as a wonderful thing! Yes, I’ve done today’s particular generous, kind deed several times last year. Except, I sort-of, kind-of made it all up as I went along, last year.

This year, it is decidedly different. Being involved with 40acts and doing Lent generously this year gives me a sense of the unexpected. Not knowing what sort of generous, kind suggestion will come my way the next day. As in, today.

I went to my regularly scheduled yoga class at the YMCA this morning. (My teacher is marvelous! The attendance at her classes testify to that fact, too.) I grabbed two mandarin oranges from the bowl on the kitchen table as I went out the door. I ate one after yoga, while I changed in the locker room. The other? I gave away.

These were not just any old pieces of fruit. No, they were special, super-sweet mandarin oranges! Fantastic in flavor and texture. Absolutely perfect, in my opinion. And the woman I gave the orange to? A lovely employee at the Y. A member of the janitorial staff. Always cheerful, pleasant, with a friendly smile on her face. Which brightened and got even wider when I handed her the orange. She thanked me for the orange. I returned her bright smile. She and I exchanged a quick hug in the hallway, and that was that.

Except for the grace. The surprise. A spontaneous, kind, generous act. I’m so glad I thought of it as I left the locker room and happened to meet this lovely lady. I hope she felt special today, through something as small as an unexpected gift of a fantastic orange. God bless her, today and every day!

(Check out #40acts; doing Lent generously at www.40acts.org.uk )

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blog, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza