17 Random Acts of Kindness YOU Can Do
practical ways to bless others.
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” - John Bunyan
In my article about clinging to joy, I mentioned that one way to maximize your joy is to get your focus fixed on Jesus and how good and faithful God is. This will lead to a renewed perspective, and will help you to be more joyful, but also to want to share this joy with others! One way to share joy with others is to do random acts of kindness. I've compiled a list of things you can do to bless others to kickstart your imagination or inspire you to go out and do something for someone else.
1. Do a Task For a Family Member or Friend - has your sister been dreading washing her laundry? Is your Dad exhausted but still has to cook dinner? Look for a chore that someone has to do and then surprise them by doing it for them! This is a small, easy, free thing you can do for someone else that helps alleviate stress and remind them that you care!
2. Bake Something for Someone - from cookies to cupcakes, nobody will turn down freshly baked homemade treats! No, seriously, who would say "Oh, free cookies? We don't like those here" !? Whether you give your baking to a new parent, an elderly neighbour, or a stressed out student, the recipient of fresh baking will be so blessed by your thoughtfulness. Plus, it'll make your house smell delicious, so who's the real winner here?
3. Make Someone a Meal - this one is something that is really appreciated by anyone, but especially parents of newborns. A few weeks ago, my Dad's coworker had his first baby, and Dad offered for our family to make his family a meal. It was such a blessing for Dad's coworker, and the side benefit is that you get to hold a baby! When gifting someone a meal, good options include Lasagna, Garlic Bread & Caesar Salad, Butter Chicken, Rice & Naan, or even a good, hearty stew with biscuits! Just make sure you ask if there are any allergies to be aware of.
4. Make Someone a Gift Basket - making gift baskets for people is one of my new favourite pastimes! It's a great way to show someone you care and bring a smile to their face. Some of my favourite things to include in gift baskets are:
- candles
- soap
- a plant or succulent
- books
- notebooks
- jewelry
- tea/hot chocolate/cider
- candy (someone's favourites!)
- chips (again, someone's favourites)
- baked goods or other snacks
- a cozy blanket
- a thoughtful letter or card
- lip balm, hand cream, lotion, or other skincare products
- flower seeds
- someone's favourite pop or drink
- fun puzzles or games
It's pretty fun to personalize a basket for someone you love! Depending on the person, I've even added fresh fruit or a utility knife. The options are endless. And of course, don't forget a beautiful basket to arrange all of the loot in.
5. Mail Someone a Parcel - mailing a parcel is like the stealth mode version of a gift basket. While postage is a disadvantage of this option, the ability to mail this package to someone you may not be able to see makes it an appealing choice. Plus it basically makes you a super spy.
6. Write Someone a Note - writing anything for anybody is a very thoughtful gesture, and it's pretty fun to hide a note in an unexpected location. Think outside of the box - write someone a message in their day planner, hide it under their pillow, stick it in their car, or leave a message on the bathroom mirror for them to find.
7. Write Someone a Letter - I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy getting mail. A thoughtful letter replete with photos, a drawing, verses, a small craft, pressed flowers, tea, or other small missives can brighten my day in an instant. It's pretty exciting to see what kind of things you can hide in a letter too (not illegal things, of course)...
8. Get Somebody a Plant or Flowers - this is one of my personal favourites because plants are so cheery. You can give someone a cute flower in a pot, or even a little spider plant. If you have a garden, that's a big bonus, because you can make someone a gorgeous bouquet from your flowers for free! It's so fun to get flowers for a random lady at a grocery store and watch her smile when you give them to her.
9. Pay for Coffee for the Person Behind You - this is a classic random act of kindness, but I think the beauty of it lies in doing something for a complete stranger. They have no expectation of it, and there's no way they can repay you, so it's a free gift with no strings attached. It also serves as a reminder that kindness still exists, which can inspire others to share kindness with others too, so it's a double bonus.
10. Paint or Draw a Card or Picture for Somebody - I especially advocate this idea if you're an artist. Share your talents! Paint a cheery landscape for a shut-in or draw a picture for your grandma. It's super easy and fun to make to boot!
11. Do Yardwork for Someone - whether it's a surprise or if you just offer to do so, it'll still be a blessing. Maybe you can weed someone's garden, rake their yard, or help them out with a renovation project. Whatever it is, this act of service is sure to be appreciated. Our family has a neighbour who blows our snow all winter for us. We've never asked him to do so, he just does it out of kindness and generosity, and with no expectation of reward. It's a huge blessing to our family!
12. Offer to Babysit for a Couple (For Free) - give a couple a bit of a break and offer to watch their kids so they can go do something relaxing or spend some quality time together. It's free for you, and it's a big blessing to the parents too!
13. Call or Text Someone an Encouraging Message or Verse - even if you're just sending a quick hello and letting someone know you're thinking of them or inquiring as to their health, this is a kind gesture. Be genuine about it, though. I was feeling under the weather recently and a beautiful friend texted me later to ask how I was doing! It's so thoughtful and kind, and it reminds people that they are valuable and that you care.
14. Hold the Door for Somebody - pretty self-explanatory, but this requires two important notes: first, smile while you do it, acknowledging the other person. And second, don't be a creep about it. That just makes everyone uncomfortable and kind of defeats the purpose of blessing someone.
15. Buy a Homeless Person a Meal - there's something about homeless people that tugs at my heart and makes me so sad. Whenever I can, I like to buy a meal for a homeless person if I see one, though I usually do this when I'm with my Dad. If possible, get them a hot meal or a hot drink, especially if it's cold out.
16. Go Grocery Shopping for Someone - sometimes it's difficult for some seniors to go out and get groceries, and with the advent of COVID, some people are loth to leave their homes. Do them a service by doing their grocery shopping for them! Get a list of what they need and buy it so that they don't have to go out and do it themselves.
17. Ask Someone if You Can Pray for Them and Do It - this is an especially good one to do in-person to encourage someone, but praying for people on a regular basis and letting them know you're doing so can also be a big encouragement.
One quote I really like about giving is from Anne Frank. She said that "no one has ever become poor by giving," and I really like this concept. When you give, you still get something in return - the joy from doing a kindness for someone else, and sometimes you even get to see the recipient's reaction! It truly is more blessed to give than to receive.
So there you have it - 17 easy ways YOU can show kindness to someone and serve others while sharing joy!
♪ - listen to Kindness by Steven Curtis Chapman.
