Tuesday

One Day To Give



Do you ever feel like your supposed to do something?

I don’t mean catch up on laundry or cook dinner. (Although that does fit my daily job requirement).

I’m talking about a tug, a quiet voice, a gentle urging to act, to do, to give.

When I was very pregnant with my first child, I went grocery shopping for the last time. My basket was overflowing with everything I thought I might need, you know, in case I died during childbirth or at least was paralyzed from my planned epidural. You could say I was a bit paranoid.

We lived on a Youth Pastor’s salary and seriously stretched every dollar. I’ll never forget that day at the store. I was huge and hungry. I took a pint of chocolate milk from the refrigerated section and drank the entire thing right there in the store.

I wasn’t even embarrassed that I dribbled the milk down my yellow top.

I was all about my dairy needs.

As I pushed my giant cart to the register, the cashier looked at me and said, “Someone offered to buy your entire basket of groceries.”

Excuse me? She pointed to a lady I didn’t know very well, but had seen at our church. She looked at me and said, “I’m supposed to do this.”

Her kind and generous act changed our entire month financially because that basket of groceries cost more than $200.

It also changed my attitude and reminded me that God saw every need.

I was thinking about this when I was reading Bring the Rain. I read about Angie selling her Coach purse on ebay and giving the money to charity. Her unselfishness and love for others touched me.

And so I asked myself, what could I give that means something to me?

Something personal. Something I value, given to someone else.

I’ve had a check sitting on my desk for a couple of weeks, one of my first from blog ads. I hadn’t spent it yet, because I was waiting on the perfect gift to buy. For me. I share everything with my hubby and with the needs of my three kids, so I don’t have undesignated sums of money laying around. Exactly.

So, this money was mine. To do as I pleased and I was going to buy something grand.

During the bloggy giveaway carnival, I was inundated with comments for my giveaway (a Tinkerbell Digital Player) as most blogs were. It was so fun! My laptop pinged like a slot machine with each email that came in.

But there was one comment that made me cry. I mean, call me hormonal, but it really touched me.


Oh. My. We spend hours and hours and hours driving to doctors and  

hospitals for our littlest brother.


My nine year old is bored out of her gourd through out all of this.  

But because she loves her little brother, she never complains.


The TINK would be such a welcome gift!


Thank you for the opportunity!


Okay, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to totally rig the contest. The thought crossed my mind several times, especially after I went to their family blog, Praying for Parker

And so, I knew what I was supposed to do with that check. I shared the story with my kids and they were very excited about surprising this little girl with something special. So, I emailed her.  

Here's her response:

I am just now getting to my email.  I read this and almost fell off of my chair!  lol!  My daughter, Kensley, would be absolutely delighted!


It is hard when you are the child just next to the one with special needs.  You go from being the baby.....to having to grow up so, so quickly.  You are asked to try and understand things that really are way beyond your reach of understanding.  


You sacrifice.  A lot.  


But her heart is so good.  I would love for her to have a Tink so that she knows her selflessness hasn't gone unnoticed nor unappreciated.

I was supposed to do that. I would have regretted it if I hadn’t.

I’m not telling you this to receive praise, actually, please, do not praise me.

One Day to Give was born out of a desire to touch someone. It doesn’t have to be monetary. You can give your time, a service, a meal or something you own.

It’s not about the what.

It’s about the why. You might change someone’s day, even their life.

And giving feels so good.

Our family is taking the challenge and I’ll be sharing what we're giving on Oct. 17. 

You have 25 days from now to do something for someone. 

Will you accept the challenge?

Come back here and link up your post. (You can link up an older post as long as it is appropriate to giving). And this isn't just for bloggers, readers can participate too.  You can share your story in the comments.

Your One Day to Give.






33 comments:

EmandZachsmom said...

I am all in!!! I have been trying to listen to that voice inside me that tells me to serve! thanks! I am way excited!

Anonymous said...

I will accept that challenge! We just found out that a church we're connected with now is setting up camp to help Ike victims at the church we were married at 16 years ago. My husband and I will be going there in the next couple of weeks, and I am so looking forward to helping out!

Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dad said...

Count me in!!! I will post on my blog tomorrow about the challenge.

What a great idea!

Alaina

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! Now I've got to ponder what to do!

~ Straight Shooter ~ said...

This is an amazing idea!
I am so doing this with the little fam and passing it along!
Thank you!

Tara @ Feels Like Home said...

What a wonderful idea! I have a lot of things going on right now that I can't write about. I'm a public school teacher, and people find my blog. I don't want my good deeds done on the sly to become public knowledge.

I'll think of something, though, and I'll come back and link it up. Brilliant!

Anonymous said...

It feels great to bless others, doesn't it?
I was sitting in the shower last night thinking I should offer a meal to one of the families in my daughter's class. The husband/father died unexpectedly a week ago. It just breaks my heart. I have never met this family, but I feel like I should reach out to the mom in some way. I just wonder if she cries at night when the kids are in bed, or if maybe she has to return to work now that her husband is gone.... and I don't know what it's like for her, but I want to do something.

So maybe I will do this for my "One Day to Give".

Lisa said...

I have already been planing to use my new love to help others in need. I will link up and share. I love this idea you have!

Valarie Lea said...

Wow this is an awesome thing to do. I am always thinking should I be doing something more. I think this could be the more. I don't want to do this for praise, or for me. I want to listen and hear what God wants me to do. I can't wait to hear from Him! :)

Unknown said...

Wow. What an excellent idea.

Thanks for sharing your story, too. And no, I won't praise you.

Anonymous said...

Finding your blog was among the greatest blessings I have received. I am so grateful for you and for your sharing your faith and conviction with us all.

I'm all in on your challenge. I know that I have been charged to do more with my life, your postings have pushed me to do it!

Thanks again!

Genny said...

Kristen,

This is such a great idea! Count me in. I'm launching something on my blog (kinda similar / kinda not) in the next week or two, and I hope you'll join me too. :)

Loved, loved, loved this post.

Genny

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful idea. We'll be out of town on the 17th, but I'm sure I can come up with something in the meantime :-)

Unknown said...

What an absolutely awesome idea! WE all need to give more or ourselves. Our family will be joining in!

Anonymous said...

I got chills when I read this post. I can only imagine the smile on that womens face when she read your e-mail and can you just think of the smile on our Father's face as she watched you demonstrate His love like that?

I will def be brainstorming about this one... can't wait to talk about it with my hubby tonight!

Betty said...

Very good idea! And that way you will be sponsoring "spreading" the good deeds!

I gave you an award today. I hope you have time to check it out and pass it along!
I love your blog!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful idea! This is why I love blogging - the opportunity to spur each other on to good works and sharing Jesus's love. Just awesome.

Unknown said...

Count me in! What a great post. You got me thinking long and hard about giving my time, or resourches to help somone else!

Dawn @ simply transparent said...

Nice...and I would have missed it?!

Hyperactive Lu said...

Oh my. I have tears running down my face. That is the most beautiful thing. :) I am at a loss for words..... what a gal!

Shell in your Pocket said...

I love the story about the groceries...what a blessing! This post is encouraging and stirred my heart!
-Sandy Toes

The Apron Queen said...

My girls and I once pigged out at an IHOP. Appetizers, entrees, sodas and even dessert. The bill was probably $50. While we were eating we were talking about my husband & my oldest son who both are in the Army. When I went to pay, the waitress said someone had already pd for it & that the person said to say thank you to my family for their service. I was floored. What a wonderful gesture.

Time to pay it forward. :)

Colleen formerly of South Africa said...

I loved the story of the groceries too. And I too believe in doing this as God leads. I recently was shopping for a pair of inexpensive shoes...(target) I overheard a young mother telling one of her 4 children...that she'd have to check the calculator ...to see if they had enough to buy the shoes her daughter wanted.The daughter asked me to pass her another cheaper pair...and I mentioned to the mother, she definitely had her hands full. She said they had left the 3 yr. old at home to make it easier to get school things. Well, I said something ( to the mom) about shoes...and she replied that she hadn't had new ones in a while. All of the children were well behaved...and clean. I walked to another aisle and heard Mom and daughter speaking again... I absolutely felt God tell me to do something. So I asked her to please excuse me, but I believed in paying it forward... and that God had led me to buy her( the mom) a pair of shoes. I handed her the money.... and can honestly say my heart sang all the way home. I share this as I think God uses us in big and small ways. This was small....but since my husband was in between jobs at the time... that little bit of money was a stretch. Her thanks was more than enough for me.

Tammy said...

This is SO wonderful. Just to share a quick story, one of my dearest friends from college lost baby Rebekah a couple of weeks after her birth due to a genetic defect.

Last year she did something very similar to this in honor and in memory of sweet baby Rebekah. So much good came out of "Rebekah's Rainbow".

http://livinthewoodlife.blogspot.com/2007/10/rebekahs-rainbow.html

It was so good to see how God worked and God has more plans here too.

CanCan said...

This is an AMAZING idea! You are so good with thinking of ways to use your blog-fluence to bless others! (I made up that word just for you!)

Anonymous said...

I am so excited1 I have been thinking of selling some of my favorite designer purses on ebay for quite some time & so the story you shared that inspired you, really caught my attention. Today I was named the "Philathropy Chairperson" for my son's pre-school PTO & your deadline of October 17th is my birthday. . . It really does feel good to give, especially on my birthday, so your post & my new position in the PTO are clear signs to me that I need to get on the ball with the sale of these possessions for a good cause. . .thank you all for your great posts!

Jamie {See Jamie blog} said...

Great idea! I wanted to share a very simple idea how someone might do something HERE.

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely wild! I was reading Give Hope website by Steven Curtis Chapman on praying for orphans, and supporting ppl who want to adopt. I am going to give away of my talent, and designs, but I also needed this to challenge me to listen to that gentle voice. I haven't really been in tune with that part of my life/ and my God for a long time. Hmm. I miss that sensitivity. Thanks for the great tip!

Scarlet O'Kara said...

I'm a little late in joining the game...but that little voice won't leave me alone until now. Count me in and see you all on the 17th.

Anonymous said...

I'm catching up on my bloggy reading and just read this - what a great idea!!
I'm looking forward to the 17th!

Skoots1moM said...

me 2!!
gr8 idea...

Anonymous said...

LOVE this!!! I've been the one to PAY for someone's groceries before and I have to say, it was ABSOLUTELY the Christ in me that made me do it. We live paycheck to paycheck and that was money I did NOT have to give, but I did it without thinking and I will never regret it.

I am definitely passing this on...

Bovee Family said...

I have a shout out to all moms or women's ministry leaders. Check out my most recent post about celebrating motherhood. I think you will enjoy it and I could use some more ideas. So, I do hope you will check it out and share your thoughts. Here it is:
www.blessings-fromourhometoyours.blogspot.com