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30 Days of Kindness (Week 3 of 5): Kindness to Our World

Welcome to Week 3 of the Your Vibrant Family 30 Day Random Acts of Kindness Challenge!

This week’s challenge is about showing kindness to our world. We’ll explore some simple ways we can show our world kindness (with kindness activities, family discussion questions, Bible verses, and more).

Join us and let’s spread kindness! Remember–every act of kindness counts!

This week’s challenge is about showing kindness to our world. We’ll explore some simple ways we can show our world kindness (with kindness activities, family discussion questions, Bible verses, and more). Join us and let’s spread kindness! Remember--every act of kindness counts!

Just joining us? Awesome!  Go here for more info about the Your Vibrant Family 30 Day Kindness Challenge!

Go here for the Week 1 30 Day Kindness Challenge post (Kindness to Family).

Go here for the Week 2 30 Day Kindness Challenge post (Kindness to Community).

Our Week 2 Kindness Challenge Results

We had two big highlights: in-depth spiritual conversations, and the chance to make and serve food to those in our community who were homeless. 

I also wanted to share about the time we gave out flowers in front of the grocery store. Although this actually happened a few years ago during a previous kindness challenge, it was such a positive outreach to the community that I want to share it here!

1) Sharing a meal with the hungry in our community

making food to feed the homeless for a random act of kindnessMy kids are part of a homeschool charter school, and a few of the teachers coordinated this event with a local meal distribution outreach in our community.

My eleven-year-old and I had the opportunity to participate in this event, and it was a wonderful evening.

Each family was asked to bring an dish, and my son chose Chicken Alfredo Pasta with Broccoli (what I'd guess to be his favorite if we still ate pasta in our house!). Although he'd never cooked in large quantities before, I knew that he would love the opportunity to make the food. I was so proud of him as he put our part of the meal together!

While we were at the event, we prayed with the guests, helped distribute food and made it a point to start conversations and to smile at each person we saw.

serving food to the homeless as part of a random acts of kindness challenge

It was a wonderful way for both of us to step out of our comfort zone and to help feed empty bellies in our community. We are actually hoping to do this again, perhaps with other families from our church.

2) Handing Out Flowers in Front of the Grocery Store

What an amazing experience this was! I asked a fellow homeschooling mom and her two little girls to join us in the flower distribution efforts. They brought adorable little pictures to hand out as well.

you-are-loved--WEB

We prayed before we started that God would bring us people that really needed to be encouraged today. We prayed that each and every flower would be a messenger of hope and healing, and that each person would be touched deeply by these simple gifts.

And we prayed for courage. Because, let's face it, it's not the easiest thing in the world to stand in front of a store and give things away (even when there are no strings attached).

handing-out-flowers--WEB

It was kind of funny to watch each encounter unfold. First the person would look at us with an confused expression (why are there a bunch of kids–and their moms–holding flowers in front of a store?) Some would go in another door (which is fine–I may have reacted the same way too).

Usually if we just said, “Hi, we're giving out flowers today just as a random act of kindness. Would you like one? They're free,” most people would stop, soften their face, smile and give a genuine “Thank you… how sweet!” kind of comment.

Some still didn't want our flower, even after we did the explaining. Perhaps they really didn't believe that we didn't had an alterior motive other than to be kind. Maybe they were allergic to Gerbera Daisies (or, as I surmised in some cases, allergic to small children!). Nevertheless, we kept handing out flowers.

One lady was so touched that she went inside and bought huge sunflowers for each of the kids! She said, “You were so kind to me to give you a flower… may I repay you and show you how grateful I am?” It was lovely.

boys-with-sunflowers--WEB

Another older gentleman stopped in his tracks when we gave him the flower. He looked almost as if he was going to cry. He just stood there for a second and finally said, “This is just… this is just a really wonderful thing you’re doing. Thank you.”

Those kind of moments made the experience priceless.

Kindness Challenge Week 3: February 14-20

Kindness to Our World

Goal: To continue talking about kindness and why it’s important; to discover how we can unite with other family members and friends to show kindness to our world; to continue to experience how good it feels to both get and give kindness; to continue to build habits of kindness in our everyday family interactions.

Suggested Kindness Activities: 

Remember, these are just suggestions. Check out the 67 Awesome Random Acts of Kindness Ideas for Kids post for more ideas.

Activity #1: Park, Beach, Trail or Forest Cleanup

30 days of kindness week 3 | random acts of kindness | being kind counts | kindness in our world | vibranthomeschooling.com

This activity is fairly simple and straightforward.

Group Option: You can either do some online searching to see what clean-up activities are going on in your community; or you can gather a few friends and make your own clean-up day!

Solo Option: Or just grab a bag, head out with the kids to a local nature area and get to work.

How to make this fun for kids:  Maybe make a game out of it:  Who can pick up the most trash? Have a small prize at the end for the winner. I also think (if you have the time) it’s fun to make a nature study time out of it. Just think… if you live by the beach you could have a beach morning doing clean-up (with a little wave action in there as well) and call it school!

Activity #2: Plant a tree or flower.

30 days of kindness week 3 | random acts of kindness | being kind counts | kindness in our world | vibranthomeschooling.com

This is another simple and fun activity with kids. There are organizations where you can plant trees together in a specific area, but perhaps the simplest way to do this is to plant a tree in your own yard (or a small bush or group of flowers if you have little to no yard, or if you just don't want a tree).

How to make this fun for kids: You can talk about how trees clean our world by filtering out carbon dioxide and releasing life-giving oxygen. You can talk about how trees and plants give us a large majority of the food we eat. And then… you can go play in the dirt (mud pies, anyone?).

Activity #3: Recycle.

30 days of kindness week 3 | random acts of kindness | being kind counts | kindness in our world | vibranthomeschooling.com

Gather up items around the house that you’ve been meaning to recycle. Many of us have regular curbside recycling pickup as part of our sanitation service. However, what about those old batteries, paint, computer hard drives, old appliances or other electronics? Contact your local sanitation service to see if they take these items. If not, search online to see who collects these items in your area.

How to make this fun for kids: Challenge your kids to make at least one new toy out of “found” items around your house (think toilet paper rolls, tissue paper boxes, empty bottles, etc). Set out some tape, glue and other general crafting supplies on a table and see what they can come up with.

Here are some ideas to get those creatives juices flowing:

Top 10 Recycled Art and Toy Projects from Modern Parents, Messy Kids

100 Ways to Creatively Reuse Old Magazines from Always Chrysti

5 Creative Toys Made from Recycled Materials from Petit and Small

Top 10 Recycled Art and Toy Projects B-Inspired Mama

 

Kindness Write, Discuss or Draw Topics

—What were your favorite “moments of kindness” from last week?

—What are some ways that God calls us to be kind to our world?

—What are some everyday habits that our family can practice to be kind to our world?

—If you had $100, how would you spend it to change the world for the better? 

Kindness Bible Verses to Write, Discuss or Draw

Of course these aren’t the only ones on this topic. These are just the ones we’re going to talk through this week—one for each day of the school week. All references are in the NLT.

Genesis 1:28: Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

Psalm 104:10-11: You make springs pour water into the ravines, so streams gush down from the mountains. They provide water for all the animals, and the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

Psalm 65:9-10: You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops.

Psalm 145:9 The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.

Zechariah 10:1: Ask the Lord for rain in the spring, for he makes the storm clouds. And he will send showers of rain so every field becomes a lush pasture.

This Week’s Kindness Resources

Disclaimer: My family and I haven’t personally participated in all of these activities or resources, but they look really fun!

67 Awesome Random Acts of Kindness Ideas for Kids from Your Vibrant Family

4 Tips that Teach Kids to Be Kind from Your Vibrant Family

Your Vibrant Family “Teaching Kids Kindness” Pinterest Board

Community Service Opportunities from Adventure Hollow

Over 30 Simple Random Acts of Kindness Resources from Thirty Handmade Days

Using Books to Inspire Acts of Kindness from The Educator's Spin on It

Pay It Forward Activities and Free Printable from Mother's Niche

How to Love Like Jesus Does: 28 Random Acts of Kindness from Tirzah Magazine

 

Tell Us About Your Kindness Acts!

  • Invite Others. Share this post on your own FB page, Twitter feed, Pinterest page (or whatever social media you enjoy) and invite others to join us! Don’t forget to use the hashtag #YVF30DayKindnessChallenge!
  • Share Ideas! If you have other kindness ideas, resources or Bible verses that can encourage others, please share them in the comments below!

 I look forward to hearing your stories this week!