Several years ago my sister, Tiare, came home from her Sunday School class with a challenge—to perform at least one act of kindness for the 12 days before Christmas. She talked the rest of us into doing it with her and every night at dinner we had to report on the kind deed that we had done. Some deeds were bigger like helping with the children’s Christmas party at church. Others were simple like leaving an anonymous note on someone’s pillow or letting someone go ahead of me in line at the store. It was easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas and I really had to make a conscious effort to remember to do the kind deed. Overall it didn’t require a lot of time, but I loved how the challenge really changed my focus during the holiday season.
Since that first year, I have tried every year to do the “Twelve Days of Kindness”. Some years I have been better at it than others. One particularly memorable experience happened about six years ago. Kaiya was not quite one and Riley was three and a half. Jayson was out of the country on a business trip so I was doing the “single mom” thing. As luck would have it, I came down with bronchitis. I made an appointment at the doctor’s office, but when I showed up at the appointed time, the office was packed. The receptionist was VERY unfriendly, not just to me, but to everyone who came in. After waiting for over an hour, I knew I would not be able to see the doctor that day and still make it on time to teach my class that night. I felt miserable and frustrated and I started drafting a letter to the doctor in my mind, telling him how awful and rude his receptionist was. It was about that point when I remembered the “Twelve Days of Kindness”. My heart softened, and I knew that sending an angry letter would not make anything better. Instead, I remembered that in my car I had small wrapped ceramic snowman that I had planned to give to friend. I ran out to my car, grabbed the snowman and took it back inside. I explained to the receptionist that I would not be able to wait any longer and then I handed her the gift and said, “Merry Christmas!” The next day when I went in for my rescheduled appointment, the atmosphere at the doctor’s office had completely changed. The lobby was still full, but the receptionist was smiling and pleasant. I could see the snowman sitting in the corner of her desk. The small act of kindness had helped to change her attitude, but more importantly, it had changed MY attitude.
Today is December 13th and hence the first day of the “Twelve Days of Kindness”. I am going to take the challenge again this year, and I want to challenge each of you, my friends and blog readers, to do the same! Your mission, (cue “Mission Impossible” theme) should you choose to accept it, is to perform at least one act of kindness, big or small, everyday until Christmas. In the words of Yo Gabba Gabba, "Try it, You'll like it!!"
***Christmas Tree Update***
I have had several people ask me how the quints are doing with the Christmas tree this year. Last year I used a gate around the tree which worked pretty well for keeping the babies out and the presents and ornaments in. This year the quints are older and more clever and it only took seconds for them to breach the sccurity gate and begin dismantling the tree. Rustin attacks the tree every time I turn around. I've been putting them in time-out, but they are so fascinated by the tree, that I think they think it is worth it to go to time out if they can satisfy some of their curiosity. We only put ornaments on the tree that couldn't hurt them and that we didn't care about (I am tired of my snowman themed tree anyway, so secretly I am hoping they destroy everything and I *have* to get new stuff.....) so it really isn't that tragic when they do get to the tree. I actually think it is cute that they are so excited about Christmas and all that goes with it :-)
The quints checking out the tree for the first time.
Ryder, the ornament thief
The tree---I finally gave up putting the ornaments back on the tree and just left them in a pile underneath!
Time Out Jail: Ryder, Rustin, Kyndall, Kaydence and Kassidy
SNOW!! It rarely snows here in central Texas, so the kids were so excited when the forcast gave a 50% chance of snow. Riley and Kaiya prayed every day that we would actually get snow. I watched the forcast change from 50%, down to 10%, then down to 5% and I was so sad because I knew how badly the kids wanted it to snow. I was amazed when I looked out my window and saw that it WAS snowing!!! It was brief, and it didn't stick, but it was snow! Riley and Kaiya were at school, but fortunately their teachers let them out to see it. The quints were all taking a nap, so they missed it, but I did manage to get a few pictures to document the moment :-)
The Twelve Days of Kindness
The snow was no more than an inch deep, but the kids attempted to build a snowman anyway! The girls loved the snow, but the boys wimped out after about 5 minutes in the cold.
Kassidy
Kaydence
Kyndall---not even snow could keep her from travelling at her typical speed.
Kaiya
Ironically, Jayson and Riley left for Denver to play in the snow on the same day that it snowed here in Austin. It was blizzardy and COLD their entire trip, but they had a blast anyway. This was Riley's first experience snowboarding.
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