Some families start the count down toward Christmas as soon as Thanksgiving dinner is off the table. Traditionally, in my house, that is exactly the case. My tree is up the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Mostly because I can't on Black Friday as I am finishing up my shopping for the year.
Some start it December 1st, like ABC Family, where there are 25 days of Christmas movies, specials, gifts, etc.
I recently did some research on the 12 days of Christmas, which is well known as a song. It's more than that, however, but its not what you think. Commonly, it is known as the 12 days prior to Christmas. There are calendars and Christmas knick knacks that have secret pockets in them for each of these 12 days available in stores.
Traditionally, the churches mean the 12 days of Christmas as a countdown from Christmas day to a day called Epiphany, which is January 6th. Epiphany is traditionally celebrated as the day the Three Wise Men finally arrived with their gifts to Jesus and his family (a year after Jesus birth, of course, not less than two weeks).
No matter how you celebrate it, the 12 Days of Christmas is about giving. And that brings me to the challenge.
There is a beautiful foundation out there called " The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation". What I am challenging everyone who goes to this blog is to spend the next 12 days performing a single act of random kindness to a perfect stranger. There are many ways to do this. Donations are most common.
For example, today, as my RAK, I left my $15.76 in change at McDonald's to be a Pay-it-Forward to individuals behind me waiting to buy coffee or breakfast this morning. I don't know any of them, but I touched them positively today and that is what this is all about.
So, I ask this of all of you reading today, be a light. Touch someone's life in a good way. Give a little bit each day for the next 12 days and help this be a wonderful holiday for someone that could really use some good cheer. Even if it means just buying something to put in a food drive, or a toy to be dropped in a Toys for Tots location, or even coats, mittens, or scarves as some banks ask for to be given to families in the local area that are in need, it is in the spirit of this challenge.
Each day, you can make one person have something a little bit better this season. If you do this for 12 people, and your neighbor can for 12, and so forth, by the end of this, thousands could be blessed.
So, what do you say? Are you in?
2 comments:
I saw your comment on my blog at 11:11. How significant is that? I think what grinds me the most about this season is the "expected" gifts off the lists. So much pressure. But giving the "unexpected" gift is by far the most gratifying. So, yeah, I'm in.
Yes! Master numbers are awesome. ;)
Thanks for the support, spirit sister.
Post a Comment