time slips away

Ok, so much for keeping up with my blog. I got busy and my blog got neglected. I am again going to try to be faithful with this. My husband and I have started a life group for college age kids through our church. We met for the first time last night and I challenged them to do a random act of kindness this week then report back next week when we meet again. I told them I would post their RAOK on the blog. They in turn will hopefully receive the blessings from helping some one else with nothing more in the way of a reward than a simple "thanks". Spread the kindness of Christ, that is the point of all this. I did receive a Random Act of Kindness about a month ago. Here is the story.
I work for an Estate Sale company. We help with the difficult transitions in life; divorce, relocation, death, etc. While working a sale on a very hot summer day with less than adequate air-conditioning in the home, I sold some items to a very nice young lady, said my thanks, have a nice day, and then she left. She returned about 15 minutes later with 4 cokes just because we looked like we needed a drink. She did the random act of kindness which surprised me and my co-worker. We thanked her profusely. Since we really couldn't drink two cokes each we then gave the extras away to other shoppers. I actually gave both of mine away as I really don't drink coke. I did have water so I was not suffering. So, just because one person saw a need, acted upon it, several others benefited and certainly all were blessed.
If anything like this, or any random act of kindness happens in your life, let me know(mjinfanti@gmail.com) and I will be glad to add it to the blog. Hopefully, the young men and women in our life group will provide more stories for us all.
that is all for now,
Marcy

A RAoK of a delicate nature....

Yes, random acts of kindness can happen anytime, anywhere, when you least expect it. They are always appreciated and the timing can be very important. My husband and I were flying to Chicago from Kansas city. Since I don't like to use the facilities on the airplane I went to the ladies room to take care of business. There was quite a line as is usual in the ladies room. The men's room never seems to have this problem. I guess they are just more efficient... I digress.... Anyway, I noticed that the last two stalls were indeed available. I told the lady in front of me and she proceeded into the first one. Upon noticing that there was no TP available she quickly moved into the next stall leaving me facing the prospect of no TP. For the men out there, we women, don't like to be stranded, if you know what I mean. This is when the RAoK took place. My new "friend" knowing of my lack of needed resources, quickly grabbed a adequate amount of TP from her stall and handed it to me. Needless to say, I was extremely grateful. She could have just done her business and moved on, but kindness prevailed and a total stranger was helped out. It was such a little gesture but greatly, greatly appreciated. I almost didn't post this one due to the delicate nature of the subject but what the heck... it still is a RAoK. So don't underestimate the value of simple acts of kindness. You just don't know how much one may be needed....
ttfn
Marcy

grocery store RAoK

My husband, Paul, was the recipient of a RAoK while we were visiting our good friends up in the Chicago area.  Thanks honey for the submission.  Hope you all enjoy and please send me tales of RAoKs of your own.

While visiting friends in Batavia, Illinois, my friend and I were tasked by our wives to go to the grocery store and gather some ingredients to make pizza.  So there we were, two guys who looked sort of clueless wandering up and down the isles of the store looking for cheese, sauce, etc.   After hovering around the spaghetti sauce for what seemed to be much to long, a lady who was watching us offered some help by asking us what we were looking for.  When we told her, she said that she knew exactly what we needed and took us to the spot of the exact sauce that we were looking for.  She assured us that we would like the results if we used it.  We thanked her and she went about her way.  I am not sure if it was a random act of kindness or just her frustration with two morons blocking the isle for much too long, but she helped us when she just could have just as well walked away.  

RAoK come in many ways

  Today my brother gave me some good advice about my blog. He has inspired me to make my intent about this blog a little more clear.  First off, I am not blogging to brag about my own random acts of kindness.  I only use them as examples to show just what I am looking for.  I greatly encourage, even challenge, others to see opportunities to go out of their way to be kind to someone else, either friend, loved one, or total stranger.  I encourage you to write your stories down, email them to me, mjinfanti@gmail.com, and let me post them.  I see this blog as a place to be uplifted by the stories posted and to spread the love that the Lord calls us to.  You know the words, love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself, (Mt 22:37-39).  These are the first and second greatest commandments.  So until the word gets out about random act of kindness, (please feel free to pass the link on to friends, neighbors, etc.) I am left with RAoKs of my own.  If nothing gets posted, what,then, is the point?  No one would bother checking in to read the blog.  You would be doing me a great RAoK to send me your own stories and experiences.  So if you commit a RAoK or some one blesses you with one, let me know.  Let's spread the blessings around.  Thank you dear brother, for calling this, as you said, "hole in my idea", to my attention.  That is, in fact, also an act of kindness and I humbly thank you.  That is it for today.
Blessing to all,
Marcy

Random act of kindness in Washington DC

  Paul, my husband, shared a RAoK with me.  This past week he was in Washington on business.  Does it snow in Washington?  You bet!  They have more snow than they know what to do with.  Paul said it is piled everywhere.  The city has brought in big front loaders to load it up on trucks and haul it out.  The streets are lined with knee high berms of snow from the plows which make walking difficult.  He watch as one woman tried to scale one of the snow piles. She was teetering on losing her balance and falling when he reached out and lent her a helping hand.  He graciously help her over the snow obstacle to the safety of the less treacherous side walk.  She thanked him and they went their separate ways.  Just that quick, a random act of kindness to a total stranger made the day brighter for both of them. So don't pass up the opportunity to be kind and to share goodness with one another. 
ttfn
Marcy

Back in December I had the opportunity to pray for a young man who was facing surgery for brain tumors. He called me after the surgery to report that the Doctor removed two tumors from his brain, cleaned up some scar tissue and now my new friend was facing a long recovery. This is the second time he has had to battle brain tumors. He will be out of work for approx. 2 months. He is married and has a 13 month baby. His wife works full time and since he can't pick up more than 10 lbs, the little one has to go to day care. While we talked, he told me he would like to have another time of prayer after our church. My heart has gone out for this young man and his family. I really felt the Lord's urging to help them out. We were able to gather a few prayer warriors to pray for him. My small group stepped up and provided meals for them, and they are now in touch with the church leaders for possible financial help. The best part in all this is getting to visit with this young couple, minister to them in a small but powerful way, and then receive hugs of thanks. Wonderful!! My hope is that we all get opportunities to lend a helping hand and touch some one's life, make a new friend, and watch God work.
I hope this RAoK will touch your heart too. If you get an opportunity to help someone out, email me at mjinfanti@gmail.com and I would gladly post it here on my blog. We all could use some up lifting stories in our lives.
That is all for now, I hope to be more consistent with my posts.
love to all,
Marcy

'Two weeks ago I was part of a random act of kindness that still humbles me completely. My neighbor lost her husband in a one car accident. It is mind numbing how quickly death can steal a loved one at the blink of an eye. Anyway, through the efforts of one angel, our neighborhood quickly organized to help. We were able to supply the food and feed over eighty people over the course of the funeral weekend. I was amazed at how much food was delivered to the house. Several kind friends, myself included, worked to organize the food, serve the family and guests, and then clean up afterward. This took the pressure off the family so that they were free to minister to the grieving widow and kids. From the many thanks, we know it was much appreciated. This is what community is all about, helping and loving when it is so needed.
Don't forget to tell friends and family how much they are loved and appreciated for a missed chance may be the last.

Jan. 14th 2010

Ok, so now I have two followers which is by far better than none. I appreciate them both very much. Perhaps they are doing a random act of kindness by following this blog. I didn't get a chance today to commit a RAoK as I stayed close to home. My daughter and I watched American Idol, which I have recorded. Then I made soup. Making soup can be considered a RAoK because it makes you feel good and full. All you do is combine lots of good things out of the refrigerator, add some love and spices, a little salt, and there you go,....soup. Soup is such a comfort food and feels really good on a cold day much like a RAoK brings comfort and warms a person up on a cold day. Soup makes a meal out of scraps combining them into something nutritious and hot. Soup can go a long way and feed many. A RAoK combines kindness and love into something that nutritious and feeds the soul. Enough said......
love you all,
Marcy

Yea,  this RAoK is from my friend Bonnie.   She gets it! 
   During the Christmas rush at the Post Office, I was in line behind a 30ish nice dressed lady.  She had a 1 yr old in a car seat and a 3 yr old  in line with her.  The P.O. line was not moving very fast.  I started up a conversation, since I'm over 50 now and talk to everyone, like my mother.  She is a Physician Asst, I told her my husband is a physician in Iraq.  I was dressed in jeans, dressed to work, as I was on my way to church to load and deliver presents to the poorer churches in Denver.  Anyway, we waiting and chatted.  She only had 1 flat rate box to mail and was checking her watch.  I told her I would mail it for her, as we knew the cost of a flat rate box.  She hesitated, then gave me the $10, her pkg and thanked me.  I'm sure she was wondering if her gift box would really make it to it's destination, or would the stalker lady grab it and run!  You are right, I felt like I had done a good deed all day.  

January 11th 2010
    I just wanted to drop a quick note about how important I feel it is we serve others.  By setting aside our own needs and helping someone out, we make the world a little kinder and brighter.  This past Sunday at church I felt that God gave me conformation that my blog is a worthwhile activity and I plan to keep it up.  The hard part is getting the word out.  I am planning on sending the blog out again to friends and family.  Let me know what you think and send me your own random acts of kindness (RAoK).  I would like to  post them on the blog with your permission.  If you enjoy what you read pass it on to a friend who might also be motivated to perform a RAoK of their own, sort of like play it forward.  I am still learning how to run a blog sight so I know there will be some mistakes so forgive me in advance.  Right now I am trying to figure out why I can't get the right date when I publish to the blog. 

ttfn
Marcy

Another RAoK

January 11th.  

  On January 7th, Paul and I got up and put on layers of warm clothes.  Our plan was to clear our drive way again for the 4th time already this winter.  The snow blower was up and working after Paul replaced a worn belt.  The sun was shining but the temp was hovering around 6 degrees above zero.  After clearing our own drive and walkway, we lugged our shovels and the snow blower over to our friends house.  They would be returning soon from a trip to Alaska.  We spent the next hour clearing their drive and walkway too.  I don't think they would have been able to even open their garage or get their car in due to the amount of snow.  Though it was very cold the physical exercise felt great and again we had the chance to help out and serve up another random act of kindness.  Though no thanks were needed, and we didn't say anything about it, our friends figured out who did the deed and thanked us with a nice dinner of Mexican food.  Blessing were had by all! 

A slow start for 2010.

So I am getting a slow start on random acts of kindness for 2010. I had an opportunity today but it fell kind of flat. I held the door for a grandmother, her daughter, and grandkid (in a stroller) coming out of the restrooms at Nordstroms. The daughter, kind of pushed her way through, grabbed the door and said that she would get it. Lesson to me, not all people are willing to allow a total stranger to do something kind for them. This tends to rob them and me of the blessing that comes when a RAoK is completed successfully. Human nature is hard to figure out sometimes. Perhaps the mom was only being protective of her child. After all, I could be some kind of crazy, right? Oh well, I won't be discouraged. Tomorrow is another day, alive with the possibilities of another opportunity.........
ttfn,
ta ta for now,
Marcy