A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-17-04....Random Acts of Kindness

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Experiments in Anonymous Kindness
~ http://helpothers.org ~

Starting in September of 2003, small cards like this one began appearing all around the world. They are markers - a newfangled game of tag, where “you're it” because someone has done something nice for you. Then it’s your turn to do something nice for someone else and, in the process, pass the card along.

This is a game of pay-it-forward. It is a game that makes the world a brighter place by putting smiles on the faces of both the unexpecting recipient and the stealthy giver. It’s a game that makes us aware of the abundant opportunities to help others – folks we know and those we’ve never seen before. It is a game that teaches the fun of purely selfless giving – doing for others without recognition or reward. It is a game that celebrates anonymous service.

For these experiments in anonymous kindness, you are the scientist and the world is your laboratory. Is kindness truly contagious? There's only one way to find out...

Some Ideas

Want to do something kind, but just can't think of what to do? Here are a few ideas you might try. (And smile when you do them)

• Give a lottery ticket to a stranger.
• Compliment a stranger sincerely.
• Return shopping carts to the store.
• Buy biscuits for your neighbor's dog.
• Drive a neighbor without a car to the market.
• Shovel your neighbor's sidewalk or mow their lawn.
• Put a quarter in a parking meter that has expired.
• Send someone a small gift anonymously.
• Write something nice about the waiter or waitress on the back of your bill.
• Help someone start their car when it has stalled.
• Help someone find something they have lost.
• Invite someone who is alone over for Easter or Thanksgiving or just Sunday dinner.
• When visiting in a hospital, spend a few minutes with someone who has no visitors.
• Write someone who has just received sad news, a note of encouragement.
• Adopt a senior citizen or grandparent.
• Make copies of this page and give to all your friends.
• Bring your pet to a nursing home for a visit.
• Help people load their groceries into their cars or, if it's raining, hold their umbrella.
• Tell your boss that he or she does a great job.
• Plant some wildflowers along the roadside.
• Pick up trash or pull some weeds in your neighborhood.
• Give another driver your parking spot.
• Give family and friends "kindness coupons" they can cash-in for special favors.
• Write a thank-you note to a person from your past who has made a difference in your life.
• Clean graffiti off of neighborhood walls and buildings.
• Bring home-cooked meals, blankets and socks to the homeless.
• Write a note to the boss of someone who has helped you, praising the employee.
• Put an anonymous supportive note on a colleague's desk.
• Buy a box of popsicles to share with the staff on a hot day.
• Offer to switch a shift with a colleague when they need time off.
• Walk a colleague to their car or bus at night time for safety purposes.
• Mentor someone and share your skills, knowledge and abilities with them.
• Drop a few coins in an area where children play, where they can easily find them.
• Spend a few minutes going through your old photos, and send whatever you can part with to the people in the photos.
• Donate blood, and encourage others to do so.
• Wash someone's car as a surprise.
• Donate to the needy - money, clothes, food.
• Clean someone's home.
• If someone has a dog, and the person is temporarily incapacitated due to an illness or injury, offer to take the dog for a walk.
• Go to opportunity shops and purchase toys in good condition and donate them to charities for children.
• Surprise somebody with a small gift that they may be unable to afford.
• Be courteous in traffic and in parking lots.
• Stop to take a lost animal to its owner or to an animal shelter.
• Offer to be a wheel chair pusher if you know of a disabled group going on an outing.
• Volunteer for 'Meals on Wheels'.
• Take your neighbor’s washing off the line if it's raining and they are not home, or put out/take in the rubbish bin/recycling box.
• Step aside to allow a frail or elderly person to go ahead of you in a queue.
• Smile and laugh more often.

All of the text and information in today's post was found at http://helpothers.org. Most of you already practice kindness in your everyday lives, and there are probably no ideas above that you haven't already thought about or done at least once, so let me take this opportunity once again to thank you for all you mean to us ....

You are all the bestest and the finest!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 02-16-04 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45Man
at
danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

[Billie]

[Billie]

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Billie.

[The Mayor]

You shall have honest scales, honest weights, . . . I am the Lord your God. —Leviticus 19:36

Honesty is the best policy. —Benjamin Franklin

[The Mayor]

February 17, 2004

The Best Policy

Read: Leviticus 19:32-37

You shall have honest scales, honest weights, . . . I am the Lord your God. —Leviticus 19:36

Bible In One Year: Leviticus 21-22; Matthew 28

---

A former chairman of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants says that ethical behavior is the foundation of business success. Speaking to an audience of business and community leaders, Marvin Strait said, "People want to do business with people they can trust. Trust is what makes business work. It is the bedrock of the free-enterprise system."

In the wake of corporate scandals and eroding public confidence, his words remind us of the value of honesty. Without it, our lives and our work fall short of God's design.

The Old Testament law says, "You shall have honest scales, honest weights, . . . I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 19:36). And the New Testament teaches that truth and honesty in all that we say and do should characterize those who have been redeemed by Christ (Ephesians 4:25-28).

A good way to evaluate our daily choices is to ask ourselves: "Would I be embarrassed if I read about this in the newspaper or if my family and friends knew about it? Am I excusing or profiting by the unethical acts of other people?"

Honesty is not only the best policy, it's God's policy for every aspect of our lives. Living with integrity honors and glorifies Him. —David McCasland

Lord, help me to be honest
In all I do and say,
And grant me grace and power
To live for You each day. —Fitzhugh

Honesty is the best policy. —Benjamin Franklin

[Billie]

Good morning! Want coffee? Swoop down! :)

[Billie]

Good morning, Russ. Love that tagline. :) Thanks for the coffee and the inspirational words - always an additional reminder to us on how to start our day. :)

[The Mayor]

I got it from Aqua's Valentine thread..

They were all great..

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Tuesday !

Texas Winter is over. Texas Spring seems to be beginning this week ! ...

[The Mayor]

Beautiful job Billie.

Everyone needs to be reminded to do things like this.
It's what makes the world go round....

[Billie]

I know - I recognized it. :)

[Billie]

Good morning, Meekie - don't be so quick to call winter over in Texas! LOL! (though I'm ready) :)

[Billie]

Thank you, Rus - I'm sure you don't need the reminders though. You've always shown yourself to be one of the kindest persons. :)

[FreeTheHostages]

[FreeTheHostages]

What a lovely idea! I'm in!! Although, having done NEARLY ALL those things in the last week, I'll have to strain to find somethinig on the list that's new to me (NOT!).

[lonestar]

You think I'm not a kind person? I licked a stranger once.

Weinie

[The Mayor]

Thankyou Billie..
Love the calenders Free..

The finest has the kindest people God ever made.

[lonestar]

If someone has a dog, and the person is temporarily incapacitated due to an illness or injury, offer to take the dog for a walk.

Don't forget to take a doggie treat.

Weinie

[Billie]

Cute calendar page again. :)

[Billie]

Thanks, Free - actually, doing these 'holidays' so far this month has been fun, but NEXT Tuesday's "Day" is really lame, so I'm not sure what I'll post.

Although, having done NEARLY ALL those things in the last week, I'll have to strain to find somethinig on the list that's new to me (NOT!).

LOL! Now, the true test is to see if T Man responds kindly to today's thread.