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 Tuesday, on December 13th 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: 
<a href=”https://diapersanddivinity.com/2011/12/12/3rd-annual-12-days-of-christmas-challenge-its-easy/” _mce_href=”https://diapersanddivinity.com/2011/12/12/3rd-annual-12-days-of-christmas-challenge-its-easy/”><img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-1963″ title=”christmas challenge button” src=”https://diapersanddivinity.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/christmas-challenge-button.jpg” _mce_src=”https://diapersanddivinity.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/christmas-challenge-button.jpg” alt=”” width=”195″ height=”130″ /></a>
This post right here can be the gathering place for sharing the joy. Come back and report some of the things you do, 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.) You’re welcome to 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 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
Here’s a fun idea that my family did for Family Home Evening tonight. We made up award ribbon signs and then drove all around our neighborhood looking at everyone’s Christmas lights. We decided together which houses were our pick for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, then knocked on their door to give them their awards. I’m sure they were flattered by the great honor. The kids loved it, and it was a fun family activity.
Diapers and Divinity 
Love it! Thank you so much! Our ward was challenged to do this, and as a convert it is my first try. I know who I am assigned, and am ready to try to start learning! Tomorrow is Day One! YAY! Thank you!
Excellent! 😀 I was already planning to do this… only, without the blog or button… but this is more fun. 😉 I love your idea to give awards to the neighbors for their lights!!!
Corine 😀
My daughter has a friend from her old school that lives on the other side of the next town over. She wanted to do the 12 days of Christmas for her friend, but I was concerned about the gas it would take to do so. So we opted to mail her friend’s family a Christmas story each day for the 12 days. Hopefully the Post Office cooperates, but we’ve got the envelopes loaded and ready and we’ll take a plate of goodies over with the last story on Christmas Eve. I appreciate my daughter’s thoughtfulness and her ability to figure out how to make her idea work without breaking our family budget! There sure are lots of ways to offer kindness..
Love this we are doing this on my blog also!!
For family home evening we finally delivered our Christmas Jar- it has collected change, a few bills, and any recycling money we made over the year. We added a a few bucks to push it over $100 and the kids delieverd it in the night (hide in the bushes…dressed in black, the whole bit) to a family we agreed on. This is our second year doing this, it is one of our favorite traditions.