Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

Often the papers are filled with heart-warming stories at Christmas. It isn't just because readers want to hear those, but because more acts of kindness happen at this time of year.

I'd like to hear about acts of Christmas kindness that you've received or kindnesses that you've instigated. There are several comment sections below for this. Share with us your stories.

I hope you'll be inspired by these accounts of Christmas kindness and will spread feelings of goodwill throughout the holiday season.

• cjbmeb14 lm - My wife is one of the kindest persons I know. She is registered as disabled but will still go out of her way to help others. Her hobby is crocheting and she enjoys making blankets. When the blankets are finished they are sent with other items to third world countries.

• Kathryn Grace - Growing up in small towns, I saw many such compassionate gifts, and our family was sometimes on the receiving end as well. May generous hearts prevail!

• Ann Hinds - Sometimes the acts by a stranger are really angels in disguise. Last year when we had very little money for food, we received an unexpected blessing. My husband was working at what he thought was a very demeaning job. An older lady walked down a hill waving her arms to get his attention. He went to meet her hoping she wouldn't fall. When he reached her, she handed him some money. He tried to ask why but she just waved him away and headed back up the hill. He shoved the money in his pocket and continued working. It was until the end of the day that he discovered that she had given him $80. He stopped at the store on the way home and brought home goodies that we hadn't had in a while. We were blessed and we thank the kind lady every day.

• gottaloveit2 - I've been in the rehab hospital with Mom for a month now. The nicest Christmas present I can remember are the smiles I get back from the elders here when I help them with daily life. Too sweet. I get back much more than I give.
• kerryhrabstock - I've heard several stories of big tippers at the Waffle House and other always-open restaurants at Xmas. That makes me tip very well, especially around the holiday.

• gottaloveit2 - I seem to get a lot more doors opened for me and mom during the holiday season.

• Nancy Carol Brown Hardin - People are prone to show more kindness at Christmastime...why can't they be this way all year? When I was little, we were very poor one Christmas...the Salvation Army gave us a turkey, trimmings and even a small gift for me. I've never forgotten that kindness, and donate to the Salvation Army several times a year.

• Delia - Hi Virginia, because of my faith, for me kindness should be a daily thing, not just for the holidays...even if it is just a smile to a stranger..it's a habit people can get into, just like the habit of not being kind...it's a choice.

• Mona - Too many to mention. I'm not sure if it's so common because both growing up and for the past 15 years I've lived in small towns where everyone knows everyone and there's always someone to help out when needed.

• Virginia Allain - My family received a random act of kindness when I was in 5th grade. My father was hospitalized for 6 months and it looked like a bleak Christmas for the five children. Then someone left a box on our porch with a turkey and other Christmas foods for us so we had a good holiday meal. My teacher brought the classroom Christmas tree to our house after school closed for the holiday break. Thanks to these acts of kindness, we had some Christmas cheer in our home.

I asked my friends for an act of Christmas kindness that they'd done - "Don't be modest. Give us ideas that inspire us to help others."

• marsha32 - This year, thanks to finding great deals with sales and coupons, I was able to build a good stockpile on several food items and several health and beauty items. I was able to help out one family who's dad had triple bypass surgery and unable to work.....and another family where the father was laid off and no agencies were wanting to help them. And, I was able to also donate quite a bit to the domestic violence center as well. This is the first year I've been able to help out this much and it is such a wonderful feeling!
• Candy47 - This year at Christmas I slipped a note into Christmas cards to friends and family that I would not be giving them gifts. But instead, I bought gifts for all the residents of a nearby nursing home (the home where my Mother had been). I wrapped and labeled each gift as to what was inside and delivered them on Christmas day. Many residents of nursing homes never get a visitor any time of year, so these gifts were a real treat.

• Kathryn Grace - She was an acquaintance, someone I hardly knew. We were talking at the annual Christmas party, catching up a bit, and I discovered that she had lost her job and had very little food in the house. I was making very little money myself and had big plans for the $50 my dad had given me--a rare gift--but my children were neither hungry nor in danger of having a tiny Christmas. Their dad and grandparents always gave them loads of presents, and I already had a couple of things for them. I left the party early, went to the supermarket, bought a few comfort foods like hot chocolate, crackers, fruit and cheese. I put those goodies in one of my pretty baskets with an envelope containing the 50 dollar bill and left it on her back porch.

• Months later, I received a call from her. She told me the story of finding the anonymous gift on her porch after the party and how it had come at just the right time. She'd been trying to figure out who had gifted her and asked if I knew anything about it. I'm not prone to lying, but I didn't want to fess up, so I fudged and marveled at the wonder of the gift and changed the subject.

• ChrissLJ - Last weekend, I witnessed a restaurant manager verbally and mentally harass one of his employees. It was so bad that customers waiting for their food said they would never be back and at least one person left before ordering. That night, I went back to the restaurant and spoke to the night shift manager about the situation. (Apparently, the harassment was a fairly common occurrence.) Then, I got the contact information for the local big wigs. It took a few hours of my time, but I made sure the store manager and regional manager knew 1) how inappropriate it is for a manager to treat employees that way and 2) how wonderful the (harassed) employee is every time I'm there. The night manager thanked me because he said so many people come in there and yell or are rude and forget the people behind the counter are people, too. He's never had a customer come back and stick up for the employees. (Chriss - Your story touches me deeply. Thank you so much for going so far out of your way to make a difference for the employees in that establishment, and for that one employee in particular.)

• Kerryhrabstock - I've helped the person in front of me in the checkout line. If they're paying cash, I'll tell them to put it away and take out my cash. This is hard to do if someone is in the middle of a credit card purchase. Gotta be quick then.
• gottaloveit2 - I like to pay the toll for the person behind me at a toll booth but, I have seen the toll booth operator still charge them!

Here are some ideas for Random Acts of Christmas Kindness that you can try:

1. Pay for someone else's coffee or meal at a cafe or restaurant.
2. Donate toys or clothes to a local children's charity or shelter.
3. Write a heartfelt thank you note or a letter of appreciation to someone who has made a difference in your life.
4. Offer to help an elderly neighbor with grocery shopping or other errands.
5. Leave a small gift or a note of appreciation for your mail carrier or garbage collector.
6. Make care packages for homeless individuals in your community.
7. Donate food to a local food bank or shelter.
8. Send a care package to a soldier or a veteran.
9. Offer to babysit for a single parent, so they can have some time to themselves.
10. Host a dinner or holiday party for your friends or family members who may be feeling lonely or isolated.

Remember, these are just a few ideas to get you started. The possibilities for Random Acts of Christmas Kindness are endless, so use your imagination and creativity to spread joy and kindness this holiday season!

The year that my father was hospitalized for six months from a dreadful car accident, various angels (friends, church, school) gave us a happy holiday.

My fifth grade teacher gave us the classroom Christmas tree when school closed for the holidays. Without it, we would have had no glittery tree for the five children in our home.

A few days before Christmas, a food basket with all the fixings for a festive meal appeared mysteriously on our front porch. That was very welcome. We never knew who the kind person or group was that provided that ham, potatoes and cranberry sauce.

The church gathered used clothing and toys for a local disaster relief. Although we had not been affected by the tornado, the church invited us to come select what we needed. I remember choosing some clothes to supplement my meager wardrobe.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all of those who helped make our Christmas a bright spot in that otherwise dismal year.

If you'd like to read more about wonderful acts of generosity and helpfulness dip into some of these books. They make wonderful gifts to inspire your friends too.

The Chicken Soup for the Soul series is filled with the most touching stories. Everyone loves them. They are great to read aloud to a group or read one story each day to your family.

These books will fill your heart with the spirit of giving.

• aesta1 from Ontario, Canada - Once, a student of mine brought her privileged family to celebrate Christmas with a poor family she met during her school immersion. It was very touching. Both families enjoyed the encounter.
• marsha32 from Kansas - I found a Christmas card in my mailbox at church. Inside was a sweet note thanking me for the hard work I do each week cleaning the church (which I do get paid $10 a week for) Merry Christmas and enclosed was a $100 bill! I don't know who the anonymous giver is....but it came at a good time. We had just spent almost $200 to get my van running again on Christmas Eve, and the money helped us to put gas in and to buy groceries for the rest of the week---plus I was able to pick up quilting book I had on hold at the quilt shop too.
• ecogranny from San Francisco - My sister works with people with developmental disabilities. Many are not invited home to their relative's holiday celebrations. Every year, she and her significant other invite as many as they can fit around their family table to spend the holiday with them. Some of their guests are noisy. Sometimes they slobber into their food. They need a lot of help. And everyone has a wonderful time.
• ChrissLJ - When I was in the 7th grade, my best friend's father had a massive stroke while 2,000 miles away from home. He was not expected to live long enough for my friend's mother to fly out to be with him... let alone become well enough to make it home. They didn't have health insurance or extra money in the bank. A friend of the family lived near where my friend's father was hospitalized. Not only did she give the mother a free place to sleep and eat, but she also loaned her the car for a month so she could be with her husband in ICU. Meanwhile back home, the mother's work was unable to do anything for her. BUT all her coworkers got together and had a community fundraiser that raised several hundred dollars and enough groceries to feed the children during the time they were without their mom. My friend's father ended up living about 15 more years.

One of my neighbors in our active retirement community in Florida told me this story,

"What a wonderful community we live in. A few days ago I asked in our online community group if anyone knew where I could buy Struffoli (honey balls). Today, while my husband was outside putting the Christmas lights on - a car pulls up and someone puts a dish of struffoli on the bench outside my house. There was a note which included their names, but since I'm not sure they would want their names mentioned - I just want to say a very big THANK YOU to these amazing, wonderful, generous people - and Joe and I wish you a very Merry Christmas. Barbara"

Pam Irie: I'm so happy to read all these stories of rampant kindness. It's wonderful and refreshing! It's been a long time since I've picked out one person to help. It's always strangers that I don't know. Just if you see someone in trouble, even a smile if you have nothing else to give. I do help continually in my animal advocacy, by donating food for the pet food bank at the humane society, sewing bedding and toys for the animals at the shelter and rescues.

Ruthi: Yes, Virginia, random acts of kindness go a long way toward making our friends and family, our neighbors, and members of our community feel better -- if just for a moment.

Renaissance Woman: Kindness really is contagious. A little kindness sure goes a long way. Thank you for this warm-hearted focus on the best gifts of the season. Truly appreciated.

Kirsti A. Dyer: Here's hoping there will be lots of Random Acts of Christmas Kindness this year.

Julia Morais: Random acts of kindness should be done all year long, and not just Christmas. I believe strongly in Karma because it keeps happening to me over and over again. Be kind and generous to people, whether you think they need it or not, and the world will be kind to you.

ChrissLJ: Unfortunately, I think for most the Christmas Kindness is a facade. We all say "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas" this time of year, but most also take out their frustration of long lines, money woes, bad weather, etc. on others. I dread going to the stores this time of year, not because of the longer waits, but because of parents screaming at their children that they should behaving... even after hours of shopping.... and disgruntled customers who yell at employees... who have zero control over the situation.

gottaloveit2: I think everyone should practice random acts of kindness. Just makes you feel good about yourself.

awakeningwellness: I think if we are kind we will receive kindness in return. Wouldn't it be great if the news focused more on reporting acts of kindness rather than always focusing on acts of cruelty! Happy Holidays and thanks for spreading holiday cheer! :)