I keep wanting to do lots of fun and real-meaning-of-Christmas-y things, but haven’t been able to lock myself into any kind of formal plan. I found this in my archives from last year and I want to try it gain. You’re all invited to participate.
So here’s the basic idea: Random acts of kindness every day for the Twelve Days of Christmas. It can be anything. (Hence, “random.”)
Here are a few ideas I threw around in my head: mailing a Christmas package to someone, paying for the next person’s order in the drive-thru window or swiping my card to pay for a particular someone’s purchase behind me in the checkout line at the grocery store, write a letter or make a phone call to someone who might need it, show up at another tired mom’s house and help her fold laundry or wrap presents, drop off goodies at the house of a grumpy or lonely neighbor, . . . You get the idea. No need to spend– just look for an opportunity for kindness and jump on it, whether for a loved one or a stranger.
So I’m going to start on December 13th (this coming Monday) and spread some Christmas kindness every day through Christmas Eve. And I’ll involve my children as much as possible– coming up with ideas, or making something together, or delivering or whatever– so that we can feel the spirit of it as a family. Anybody want to join me in the challenge?
Here’s a button if you want one. You can blog about it and invite others, or put it on your sidebar as a reminder, or do whatever works for you.
html code for the button: 
This post right here can be the gathering place for sharing the joy. Come back and report each day what you did, if you want to, or if you have a great story to share. (I’ll keep a link on my sidebar here for easy access.) And unless you’re in it for the glory, comment your “reports” anonymously or with initials or a pseudonym or something. I just think it would be fun to hear about each other’s experiences and rejoice (anonymously) in the whole business of joyful service together. Plus, we can read and then steal each other’s ideas.
“In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service. ‘It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to which will bring ‘peace on earth,’ because it means—good will toward all men.’ Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. Then each Christmas will be the best Christmas ever.” — Thomas S. Monson
I feel more Christmasy already.
p.s. The reporting back is not necessary, but just helps with three things: 1) accountability/slacker prevention, 2) letting you “tell” someone about something you did that you’re so excited about, but you can still remain anonymous, and 3) sharing service ideas. There’s no rule about reporting daily, just update us as often as you can or want to.
Note: When you comment anonymously or under a pseudonym, and the computer doesn’t recognize you, it will send your comment to me for moderation. It may seem like it “disappeared,” but I’ll get it posted soon. 🙂
Diapers and Divinity 
What a great idea! Thanks for bringing it up. My family and I will start with you on the 13th. I’m so excited!
I like this idea and am excited to do this!!! Thanks for the idea and the inspiration.
Such a great idea! I will have to share it. I look forward to seeing what others do, especially since I am sometimes not really great about coming up with good (and cheap) ideas.
I’m in! What a great idea!
I already feel more Christmasy just reading this! Thanks for a great — and easy to implement — idea. Count me in!
This is a great idea!! Does ironing my husbands shirts for the week count since I am not in the habit of doing it?? lol
I am so incompetent when it comes to figuring out all this widget/gadget/button stuff – but I got it figured out and put your button on my blog! I am excited to read about everyone’s experience! I heart the spirit of Christmas!
Today I explained the Christmas challenge to my shy 4-year old. At the bookstore, she held the door open for a gentleman, and the whole way home said, “I can’t believe I did it! I did the challenge!” 🙂
today at the Grocery, I allowed everyone to maneuver their cart ahead of my own. Even though I was pregnant and famished (dangerous at the Grocery!), at every opportunity I paused or moved aside so that others could go ahead.
Small, yes, but also kinda big. Because usually I get a bit annoyed with people who show no grocery cart etiquette and shop like they don’t realize anyone else is in the store. So to deliberately and cheerfully allow that, sometimes, was a big deal for me.
And I had a much more enjoyable shopping experience. And so did the other shoppers.
I embraced the challenge today. There was a little boy (like 9 or 10 yrs old) who carefully selected an item of candy from the check out area. He begged his Mom to loan him a dollar to buy his M&Ms he was so sweet and non whiny I couldn’t resist paying for his candy. The checker was a little confused when I told him that I wanted to pay for the kid behind me so I wasn’t able to be very discrete. The little boy couldn’t stop grinning and neither could I. What a great way to get in the Spirit!
Our family has decided to record our acts of kindness each evening after our scripture study. We are then going to read the list out loud on Christmas Eve. Thank you so much for the great idea – my kids are loving it!
On Friday, I started early, I went out and shoveled the snow off our sidewalk path that we share with our neighbor and shoveled their porch off as well. Today I watched a friends son so that they could pack up there house to move this weekend. I look forward to doing something tomorrow!!!
Today my husband and I were out Christmas shopping. We passed a man on a corner who was holding up a sign asking for work. Normally I am hesitant to give money to panhandlers and people with signs on the street, but after passing him twice, I felt we needed to give him some money since we couldn’t provide him work.
Because we were Christmas shopping, I happened to have a $10 bill – something I don’t often carry. We slowed down, I rolled down the window and handed him the money. The gratitude in his face as he looked to what I had pressed into his hand filled me with such indescribable emotion, which was very, very hard for me to contain.
I don’t know if that emotion overwhlemed me was because of the man’s humble gratitude or because I had given more than a $1 and a few cents. Whatever I felt, though, was worth much more than the $10. It was a little taste of the greatness and goodness of God’s pure love!
The kids are trying to do something nice for someone every day at school. It’s cool because they come home and are excited to tell me about it.
Yesterday I invited an older couple out to lunch. I think they really liked it.
Tonight I went out to dinner with a girlfriend. A lady at the next table was talking on her cell phone and was visibly upset. I wanted to do something for her, but didn’t know what to to do or say. After I left the restaurant, I kept thinking about her, so I went to a bakery, bought a cupcake, and went back to the restaurant. I apologized for being a nosy stranger, but offered here “something sweet for a moment of stress.” She cried and hugged me and said “there really are angels.” It was such a cool experience and made me feel really great.
I ran some errands (xmas related) for my son’s teacher. She has been very overwhelmed with some personal things, and hasn’t had time to get everywhere. It felt good to play one of Santa’s helpers!
At the airport, we saw a woman crying. We stopped and asked her if we could help her. She was upset because she had missed her flight. We helped her carry her bags all the way through the airport so that she could make new arrangements. She cheered up by the end and we all wished each other Merry Christmas.