Make My Day
June 15, 2012
The phrase, “Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty,” has been around since 1983 and its purpose was to encourage anonymous deeds of consideration and caring as a way of “making someone’s day”. No specific pattern was to be followed, no set number of deeds was prescribed other than to be kind and do good to others because kindness positively influences people.
I first saw the phrase, “random act of kindness”, on a billboard along a major highway. The advertisement was simple and direct: “Do random acts of kindness.” This idea seemed like a great way to pleasantly surprise someone by doing an anonymous good deed. Since I was already on the highway, I knew immediately what my random act of kindness would be. When it was time to exit the road, I would pay the toll for the car directly behind me and wouldn’t they be surprised! It was such a good feeling to imagine how that person would try to make sense out of my random act of kindness.
Research studies indicate that students who learn about lesson topics such as “getting along with others” and “random acts of kindness”, even if just for 15 minutes a day, show improvement on national standardized math and reading tests. Random acts of kindness, taught in a not so random way, can have a positive impact on school performance.
As I reflect upon the command in Colossians to put on kindness, it seems that random acts of kindness are consistent pieces of a spiritual wardrobe for believers. While it is fun to surprise people with unexpected consideration and care, we need to be so consistent and predictable in being kind to others that they would be surprised if we were not. A kind heart should be prominently worn on the sleeve of every Christian’s wardrobe so that others see it coming a mile away! Go ahead and “make someone’s day”! (sv)
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness…”
Colossians 3:12