tyler90az Posted December 1, 2012 Posted December 1, 2012 (edited) Could you imagine if every Latter-day Saint did one act of kindness during Christmas? Acts of kindess have a multiplier effect unparalleled to anything.What are some touching stories you have heard? Edited December 1, 2012 by tyler90az
bluebell Posted December 1, 2012 Posted December 1, 2012 Everyone giving service and then sharing what they did on Christmas eve is a part of our family Christmas tradition. I'm sure it does bless other people, but i think it blesses us so much as well.The hard part is coming up with the service idea. Each person tries not to do the same thing every year. 2
Tacenda Posted December 1, 2012 Posted December 1, 2012 This year I started a new tradition at Thanksgiving time of giving each of my children $25.00 to pass along to a needy person or persons. We told them we'd like them to share with us around Christmas time what happened, if they want to share anyway. I'm so excited to hear their stories! Who knows some may have felt they were the neediest of all, hope not but they are young adults and some are married, so we'll see. If the thread is still going strong I'll report back in a few weeks. 3
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted December 2, 2012 Posted December 2, 2012 Could you imagine if every Latter-day Saint did one act of kindness during Christmas? Acts of kindess have a multiplier effect unparalleled to anything.What are some touching stories you have heard?Most I know already do...but we could do so much more.
Storm Rider Posted December 2, 2012 Posted December 2, 2012 Words and wording is important in order that misunderstandings to not occur. For example, when I read this OP my initial reaction was, "Who assumed that LDS were not performing acts of kindness?" I am one of the first who will admit that we are human, that leadership and our members have made, makes, and will continue to make mistakes or even perform in ways that are less than and/or significantly less than perfect. There may not be a constant flow of Hallmark movie moments, but I believe that what we teach everyone is to serve others, to sacrifice ourselves in this service, and to do it lovingly, charitably, and with a pure love of Christ. 3
tyler90az Posted December 2, 2012 Author Posted December 2, 2012 Words and wording is important in order that misunderstandings to not occur. For example, when I read this OP my initial reaction was, "Who assumed that LDS were not performing acts of kindness?" I am one of the first who will admit that we are human, that leadership and our members have made, makes, and will continue to make mistakes or even perform in ways that are less than and/or significantly less than perfect. There may not be a constant flow of Hallmark movie moments, but I believe that what we teach everyone is to serve others, to sacrifice ourselves in this service, and to do it lovingly, charitably, and with a pure love of Christ.Could not agree more
tyler90az Posted December 2, 2012 Author Posted December 2, 2012 Everyone giving service and then sharing what they did on Christmas eve is a part of our family Christmas tradition. I'm sure it does bless other people, but i think it blesses us so much as well.The hard part is coming up with the service idea. Each person tries not to do the same thing every year.I like that tradition.
thesometimesaint Posted December 2, 2012 Posted December 2, 2012 During the Christmas season when my wife and I go out for a meal. We secretly pick up the tab for someone else. 4
Calm Posted December 2, 2012 Posted December 2, 2012 During the Christmas season when my wife and I go out for a meal. We secretly pick up the tab for someone else.That would be so fun. Do you stick around to see the reaction or not?
The Nehor Posted December 3, 2012 Posted December 3, 2012 Could you imagine if every Latter-day Saint did one act of kindness during Christmas?Yes, in my experience 99% of them do.
Mudcat Posted December 3, 2012 Posted December 3, 2012 (edited) What are some touching stories you have heard?I am not LDS, but I will pass one along.I am a sales guy for a small company that services our local area. We have a wonderful woman who is the dispatcher for the service department. She is a single mom due to abandonment and has two older kids. Her car had needed an expensive repair just a few days before Christmas....She had spent all her money prior to the breakdown to make sure her kids had a good Christmas.. She's got good kids too. One of them takes dance from my wife and is a standup gal the other is an Eagle Scout. She's done well by them for what little she has been able to give them.She is a proud woman and I had to "pull" the plight of her situation from her. She didn't say it, but I knew gifts would be returned to at least cover a down payment on the repair.I wanted to help, and proceeded to contact everyone in our small company in a "hush hush" sort of manner about the deal. Apparently all wanted to help in what way they could. I was surprised that by the days end we were actually just a couple hundred dollars short of covering her bill. I called our companies owners and told them what the situation was, what others had done and asked what they could do..They cleared the gap for us, so the repair was covered. I was awarded the honorific of presenting the envelope to her..... Edited December 3, 2012 by Mudcat 3
Duncan Posted December 3, 2012 Posted December 3, 2012 One of my favourite Christmas stories comes from the New Era magazine and I wish to heck I could find it. it was written in the 70's. It was about this kid in a school class and he was terribly poor and the only christmas gift he had ever gotten was a Christmas orange. IIRC he was asked to pray once in class and he said something like , "have mercy on us". The class got together and gave him a sweater and he was grateful, makes me tear up thinking about it.
Calm Posted December 3, 2012 Posted December 3, 2012 I think a great way to take kindness to the next level is to avoid the random variety and concentrate on the thoughtful, either by finding those in great need such as mudcat's friend or a family in need of help to pay for a life saving operations that is not approved by insurance or cleaning up an older couple's yard in time for winter and then coming back to bring new life in spring.Another gift that would be treasured is to write a detailed thoughtful essay about the impact some one has had on your own life and how this has added things of value, etc, etc, if you arent comfortable with writing itself, perhaps make up a little program like 'this is your life' with pictures and maps of the things they did in their lives. Grand kids love this stuff so it makes a good party for three generations of family and friends. 1
Calm Posted December 3, 2012 Posted December 3, 2012 (edited) Looking for Duncan's Christmas orange, I came across this: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=59&sourceId=c9db1f26d596b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRDAnother: https://www.lds.org/new-era/1983/12/burrito-christmas?lang=enghttps://www.lds.org/ensign/print/1977/12/the-orange-and-the-tramp?lang=eng&clang=enghttp://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=59&sourceId=50cd05e063feb010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD Edited December 3, 2012 by calmoriah
Duncan Posted December 3, 2012 Posted December 3, 2012 (edited) Looking for Duncan's Christmas orange, I came across this: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=59&sourceId=c9db1f26d596b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRDummmmmmmmmmmmmm, maybe it was the friend magazine? I recall there were drawings and one I think was of this boy looking up whilst praying, I am think..it was from the 1970's I would imagine Edited December 3, 2012 by Duncan
Calm Posted December 3, 2012 Posted December 3, 2012 And here it is: https://www.lds.org/new-era/print/1983/09/he-was-somebody-special?lang=eng&clang=engHe Was Somebody Specialby Frank D. DayHe walked into the seminary classroom somewhat frightened, maybe a little belligerent, certainly not at ease. He came because most of the students in his grade came to seminary, but he came alone. Few spoke to him; no one walked with him. He had almost no friends.For one so young his life had been a most difficult one. His father had been killed in a drunken brawl. His mother was not interested in sending her children to church, and she was not really interested in sending them to school. She was on state welfare, and much of that money was used to purchase liquor for herself and her boyfriends. There were two other children in the family; all three had different fathers.Even the most basic material goods were lacking in the home, including adequate food and clothing. The boy had only a sweater to keep him warm in the cold weather. As he walked to school, he would take the sweater off as he approached the building because it had large holes in it and he didn’t want his peers to see. (I say peers because he had no friends.) He wore no socks because he had none. His hands were rough and chapped because the house had only cold water and no soap with which to wash. This boy was thin and lacked vitality. Food was not plentiful, and that available was of the junk food variety. He lived in an unkempt area on the far side of town and was uncomfortable when he visited any other section of the community.The first day of class I invited him to sit on the front row. He did so willingly but not comfortably. I tried to make friends with him, but it was very difficult. He appeared to trust no one.After school had been in session for several weeks, I asked if he would like to give the prayer. He quickly and emphatically refused. I later learned that he had never heard a prayer until his first day in that class. He had never been to church, he had never belonged to the Boy Scouts, he had never held the priesthood. As the days passed there was little change in his willingness to communicate, to smile, or to seek friends.A month before the Christmas holidays, one young lady requested class time to present a matter of concern. The young man was absent that day, and as she stood before the group her message was simply, “We are not friendly with him, we do not speak with him, we do not walk with him, we do not associate with him. This seems to me to be very wrong. After all, he is important too.” Then she suggested that they could and should be friendly to him and help him to understand how important he was—his importance to them and to himself. They all agreed to respond to her recommendations. Then she suggested that they each contribute a small amount of money toward buying him a coat for Christmas. This they also willingly accepted.One did not have to be told they were succeeding. It was in his eyes, in his walk, and in his smile. It was obvious to everyone that there was a change in his life. He walked a little taller. He was able to look others in the eye and smile as he extended a friendly greeting.One day there was a note on the teacher’s desk which read, “If you cannot find someone to give the prayer today, I will,” and he signed his name. Strangely enough no one would give the prayer that day, so I called on him. He did not close his eyes. He did not fold his arms. He did not bow his head or do any of the things we normally do in prayer. He simply looked up to the ceiling with his hands by his side and said, “Oh, God, help us. Amen.” No one smiled. No one coughed. No one said a word. It was a wonderful prayer to him and to every member of the class.Two or three days before the Christmas vacation, the young lady who had proposed the plan came to class with a beautifully wrapped Christmas package and again requested class time. She stood and thanked each of the students for their kindness and their willingness to respond to her earlier suggestions. Then she spoke for just a moment about the value of individuals regardless of their status in life, their home background, their scholastic abilities, or their popularity. She said that every one is very important. The young man, a bit suspicious at first, suddenly became aware the young lady was about to involve him in a new experience.After some moments, she took him by the arm and had him stand by her side. She told him how much they appreciated him and how valuable he was to the class. She said they all appreciated him and were pleased he was their friend. By now he had tears in his eyes, but so did the teacher and most of the class. She then laid the package in his arms, and the tears increased. After a moment or two passed, another young man in the class said, “If you will open the package you can see what’s in it.”Slowly, methodically, with great care and a desire not to tear the paper, he opened the package and held up a beautiful jacket. He continued to display his emotions, and so did the class. After some moments, the same boy said, “If you’ll unzip it you can put it on.” He opened the zipper and slowly put his arms into each sleeve, pulling the jacket around him and displaying a happy smile through the tears. He wore the coat every day until the last week in May.Something had happened in his life that had never happened before. Someone gave him something, and in that gift was an expression of appreciation and love that he had never known. He later related to some of us that he had only had one Christmas present in 14 years, and that had been an orange.Needless to say, the young man’s life had changed. He became happy in his school work, he participated in many activities, the other students enjoyed him, and he made many friends. If the story ended there it would be a great story, and the young lady who recognized the worth of a soul would have performed a miracle. But the miracle continued. This young man filled a mission, married in the temple, and is the father of two lovely children. One of the other children, his half sister, has also married in the temple. She and her fine husband are both active in the Church. The third child, a half brother, also filled a mission and has completed his college work. And the mother—oh, yes, the mother. She reports that each night she thanks her Heavenly Father for many things, including a young lady who knew the value of her son and was willing to make her feelings known. Secondly, she thanks her Heavenly Father for the great principle of repentance and forgiveness. Third, she thanks him for her membership in the Church, for a loving Savior who helped a family change. Then she thanks him for the privilege of being the secretary in her ward Relief Society and for the love and kindness of all her sisters there.Yes, he was someone special, and the class was special.Perhaps the most significant lesson learned from this beautiful, shared experience was a clearer, deeper meaning of those forceful words of the Savior to the Prophet Joseph: “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (D&C 18:10). 1
Nathair/|\ Posted December 3, 2012 Posted December 3, 2012 Yeah, I always look forward to Cal's posts. 2
thesometimesaint Posted December 3, 2012 Posted December 3, 2012 That would be so fun. Do you stick around to see the reaction or not?No, but I have active imagination. Pay it forwards.
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