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!