We Need To Talk...

 The Mister hates it when I start out a conversation like that.  :)

Last evening I had a comment about the Random Acts of Kindness 

Adventure.  The point was that some people might think doing

kind deeds and posting about them is in poor taste and could

be seen as bragging.  Kindnesses should be done, but never

publicly talked about.  She gave an example of a wealthy friend

who gives a lot of money to charity and would be upset if

that fact were made public.  She also pointed out that

the kindness adventure could be misunderstood

 as trying to make a deal with God and improving

your chance of getting into heaven by doing good things.

Then I received an email from someone who read her comment

and agreed with her, giving me these two quotes....

"Do what ever you can

when ever you can

where ever you can 

 for who ever you can

and expect no reward"

"Thou shalt not brag unto others what thou doest

lest they scoff and say unto thee: Big Head".

Both people, who do not live in the USA, said the

Pay-It-Forward and Random Acts of Kindness is an

American thing and both would be considered in poor

taste and bad etiquette to talk about kind things you 

have done for others.  

If two of my readers could have felt this way,

I imagine there might be even more who remained silent.

So let me just share a few thoughts I have on that subject...

• I think we are talking about two different things here.  One is an organized effort to spread kindness and coming here on Fridays to share and inspire each other.  The other, would be in poor taste, telling how much money you gave a charity, how much you put in the offering plate at church ...most money subjects like that are off limits, just like you shouldn't tell how much money you make, what you paid for your car, etc.  
• Nobody is expecting any kind of reward.  Just the blessing of giving.
• I have never gotten the feeling while investigating how to do this adventure on blogs or on facebook, or even here with participants, that we were prideful in the little things we did.  Honestly, giving a handful of chocolates to the mail man is hardly worth bragging about, in my opinion.  I think it's all in the motive and our attitude.  And I think we are to share what we do~

"Let us consider how we may spur one another

on to love and good deeds."  Hebrews 10:24

• I do not believe that doing good things gets you to heaven.  We do good deeds because we are Christians...not to become Christians.

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to

do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Ephesians 2:10

• If we only did good things in secret, how would our children and others learn from our example? Jesus certainly did many good things publicly and we are to imitate him, right?  And I believe we are supposed to shine love as a light all around us.  

"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be

hidden, or under a bowl.  Instead, they put it on it's stand,

so that those who come in may see the light...in the same

way, let your light shine before others, that they may see

your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Luke 11:33, Matthew 5:16.

 I also wanted to let my two friends know that 

Pay It Forward and Random Acts of Kindness are

alive and well in Europe! Just do a google search

for "random acts of kindness in europe" or "pay it

forward in europe" and you'll see what I mean.

 And the most interesting thing of all is that the

 Pay If Forward with a cup of coffee originated

in Naples, Italy over 100 years ago!

It's not American in origin!  

 
"When a person who had a break of good luck

 entered a cafe and ordered a cup of coffee, 

he didn't pay just for one, but for two cups, 

allowing someone less fortunate who 

entered later to have a cup of coffee for free.

It's an elegant way to show generosity: 

an act of charity in which donors and

 recipients never meet each other, 

the donor doesn't show off and the

 recipient doesn't have to show gratitude."

source

 I hope that at least explains a little better my motives

and intentions in doing this adventure.

It never occurred to me that someone could think

sharing and inspiring each other to spread more

kindness could be seen as prideful.

So, I apologize if you felt that way.

Let's just 'spur one another on to love and

 good deeds' like we're supposed to!  And you

can't do that if you don't share and talk about it!

If you read all this, thanks for your time. :)

I promise a photo and minimal chatting next post!

Now, I'm off to make dinner and enjoy the big kids

as they come over this evening and visit!

♥