April Challenge!

Weather has grown warmer here in the Midwest and many of our elderly neighbors are worrying over how they will manage to mow their lawns, weed their gardens and a myriad of other weekly chores. If you know of an older neighbor who is not getting around as well as they used to, go over and pull their weeds or mow their lawn. Try to do this when they aren't home, so you can remain anonymous and they can enjoy the gift of someone doing them a favor without feeling beholden to you. If they are home all the time, go ahead and help them out anyway. My oldest daughter went with a group of youth last year and weeded, mowed and did quite a bit of work for a lady. She was very happy and relieved. Their help meant that she would not have to leave a home she's loved for many years or have to pay excessive landscape fees. It only took a couple hours of their time but the joy it gave both the kids and this woman can never be measured. Who can you help this month?

Finding Needs

Sometimes it can be hard to think of ROAKs. One thing that has helped us is to stop and listen to people when we are talking to them. A need will usually present itself.

Recently, the pastor of our church, bought a new house. The mortgage company made a mistake that wound up costing him $500! After discussing the issue with the woman at the bank for hours, he finally told her not to worry about it that if God wanted him to have that money, he would get it back anyway. Someone was listening and God was speaking to their heart because a couple of weeks later he got a letter in his mailbox with $500 enclosed. The letter said some sweet things about servants of the Lord and their rewards.

Now, I can't afford that big of a gift and I'm sure many of you can't either, but the point is that someone listened to him as he talked through his aggravation at the mortgage company and they took the time to consider how they could meet this very real need that he had.

You may be chatting with a fellow mother from your child's school and hear her say that her washing machine is broke and she doesn't know how they'll ever afford to fix it. That need should stick in your mind. You should start looking for possible ways to help her. Maybe you know a friend or family member who has an extra washer on hand? Or perhaps God will present the opportunity to you (which is what usually happens). If you have paid attention to her need, when the opportunity comes, you will be able to jump on it and help this woman out.

So, keep your eyes and ears open :)

February RAOK Challenge

Hi, folks! I hope you found some opportunities to bless others this past holiday season. At Thanksgiving, I went with a group of women from my church and we delivered four baskets of food to families. These were huge, plastic tubs filled with enough food for at least a week. These families did not know we were coming. We were given their names by others and told they had a need. We showed up unnannounced. A bit rude, perhaps, but to see their reaction was such a blessing. One woman, a single mother who we heard was not going to be able to give her daughter a real Thanksgiving dinner was so moved that she began to cry.

Most ROAKs you will never see the other person's reaction over your gift, so this was really special. I still consider it a ROAK because most of these people did not know who we were or why we were giving them a gift. Please post the ways you were able to help others over the holidays.

My challenge to you for February is this--we are battling the long, dreary days of winter. Figure out a way to brighten just one person's life this month. Here are some ideas for ROAKs:

• Leave flowers on the door step of a neighbor
• Phone your local nursing home and get the name of a resident who rarely has visitors and send them a small gift and let them know you are praying for them
• While in the drive through at your local fast food restuarant, pay for the person behind you too
• When leaving a parking garage, do the same thing
• Take the time to tell a stranger that you like her hat, purse, dress, etc. I once told a woman that I loved her beautiful white hair and that I hoped my hair turned that color one day. She beamed and said, "Oh, honey, you don't know how I needed to hear that." You never know what a blessing you might be to someone
• Think of someone who needs a boost and send them an anonymous note that they are doing a good job or with a special Bible verse or quote.

Have fun!

May RAK Challenge

Hi, folks! Spring is in the air in Indiana. Flowers are blooming and baby cows are everywhere here in the rural county we live in. I love baby cows! They look just like their Mama except smaller. They are too cute! Yes, I'm easily pleased :)

When the weather warms up, the girls and I always start thinking about RAKs we can perform. We're a little late this year, but ready to get back into the groove.

Our challenge to you for this month is to pay attention. LISTEN. If you just listen, there are needs all around us. It might be the person at work who is sad because she lost her pet she'd had for fifteen years. It could be a neighbor who you notice looks sad when you see her. Just pay attention. When you spot a need, figure out a way to fill it. If they just need an uplift, it's easy. Send them a nice card, put some flowers from your garden on their porch. You can also buy flowers at Aldi's now. They are very inexpensive (like 2.99 or 3.99). You can pick up a vase at the Goodwill for a dollar. The point is that it does not have to be expensive.

Now, here is the most important part of the challenge. You absolutely cannot let this person know the gift is from you. It MUST be completely anonymous. This can be tough. You'll have to be sneaky and creative. You may have to enlist the help of others.

I once sent roses to a neighbor teenager. We were close to their family and I knew she'd been going through a really tough time. I had to enlist her mother's help to keep it anonymous, because it was hard to coordinate when she'd be home to receive the flowers etc. I knew her mom would keep the secret though. I wrote some uplifting words about her future. Those flowers made her step a little higher and she was thrilled, her mom said. When she tried to figure out who'd sent them, her mom just told her that sometimes people think a lot of you and want to do something for you but they don't want any thanks. And that she should just do the same for someone else one day.

Once you've done your RAK for May, please pop over here and post your experience, how you played secret agent to accomplish it and what reaction you noticed from the person. Let's all make the world a little better this month!

Lori

December R.A.K. Challenge

I am going to issue a challenge for each person who reads this to find one opportunity to do a random act of kindness during the month of December. The act is your choice. Then, come back here and share. Have fun and let's all go out and make the world a little better.

Lori