Several years ago, I came up with a strategy to help me be more intentional about thinking of others.
It’s called: Person Of the Week (POW).
I like it because it is simple enough for me to implement without becoming overwhelmed (an important consideration since I have a 6-month-old and a 3-year-old as “partners in crime”).
This is how it works:
I began by writing down the names of family members, friends, and coworkers on little slips of paper. These are people that I don’t get around to helping and encouraging as much as I would like.
Then, my 3-year-old and I decorated a plastic cup and put them all inside.
Every week, my 3-year-old gets to pick out one name.
“Can I pick it out now?”
Oh, the suspense…
After a name has been selected, we brainstorm ways to help and encourage that person.
Examples:
- Send a funny greeting card or postcard.
- Bake cookies, muffins, or treats.
- Buy a small gift.
- Stop by and say hi.
- Make a meal.
We also will pray for that person together.
In addition to those things, I will spend some time thinking up “grown-up ways” to help that person. If the person is looking for a job, I might research jobs online and send relevant links. If the person recently started a company, I might think up ways to help promote it. If the person likes to bake, I might print out my favorite cookie recipe and mail it. Etc.
This week, we started by making a card and some banana chocolate chip muffins:
If that little delivery girl doesn’t make you smile, then I don’t know what will.
My other “sidekick” does her fair share too. She beams, laughs, gurgles, and generally cheers up everyone who sees her.
She is also our Chief Nap Officer (CNO). The cool thing is that even when she is asleep, she totally makes people smile.
YOUR TURN: What “systems” do you have in place to help you remember to care for others?
Wonderful ideas! Thanks for sharing.
What a wonderful way to teach her about acts of kindness while blessing people in your life. I’m so impressed.
This is such a beautiful thing to do! I need to remember to do more things like this, but one thing I do regularly is when I’m de-cluttering my house, I really try to find a good home for my unwanted things. Even though I might not have a use for them, there may be someone out there that could really use it. For example, we have a box of ostomy supplies that my daughter has grown out of and rather than throw them out, I’ve been able to locate an organization that sends unused supplies to countries with no access to them. I can’t even imagine how one would cope with having an ostomy without any medical supplies!
That is such a cool thing to do, I’ve never thought of doing something like that. I need to remember others more often, sometimes a whole week will go by without me even picking up the phone to call my closest of friends. I’m really going to think about implementing this in my house – thanks for the idea!!
I love this idea! I tend to get overwhelmed easily by the “shoulds”: “I should bake cookies for X” and “I should send an encouraging note to Y,” and “I should to call Z to check on her.” As much I as I love and care for my friends and family, sometimes all the details of my daily life take over, and my intentions to reach out just fall by the wayside. By focusing on just one person/family at a time, I can be more helpful and encouraging on a regular basis. Thanks for sharing such a great (and simple) tip!
You’ve just inspired me! What an easy and fun way to keep on top of blessing others. I might just have to try your system — I know my oldest son would love it.
Nell
Thanks for sharing this great idea. I think we’ll implement it in our house right away…..there is always a list of people we need to touch base with in my head. This is a great way to actually do something about that list :)
I love this idea Stephanie and I think I’m going to “borrow” it for around my house. I’m always looking for ways to demonstrate to my kids how to be generators of peace and kindness. Well done!!
My system to remember others is by word of mouth or people I come in contact with! I tend to be a talker and learn a lot out a person when conversing with them. There are prayers, cards and often if I have bought or won an item that I know they would enjoy, there is their thinking of you gift.
I love your idea!
Thanks, Cindi
Not only are you making someone’s day/week, you are also teaching your little girls to love others. That is something that will last a lifetime! You are amazing!
I totally love this idea, and I’m totally going to steal it. I think it’s a good kind of stealing…
We don’t have any systems in place, but this is such a fabulous idea that I think I’ll borrow it and let my girls help me fill our cup tonight! Thanks for sharing!!
wow, this is a fantastic idea! You are such an inspiring person Stephanie, thank you! :)
That is such a wonderful yet simple idea! I’m going to incorporate this one into mine and Levi’s routine soon. I think he’s still a tad young to get it, but it won’t be many more months before this would be more than appropriate. Love it!!
Wish I had some systems to share, but my plan until now was just to incorporate him in what I do…such as going along to deliver meals, buying presents for poor children at Christmas, etc. What I love about this idea is that it gives the kids an opportunity to really be an active part of the giving…not just to tag along.
This is a very cool idea to be intentional about serving others. And so simple, too! I try to pray immediately for anyone the Lord brings to mind during the day or night. I figure that if all of a sudden I am thinking about someone, they must need prayer! I have also tried to become more intentional about writing notes of encouragement to colleagues and friends. Writing on paper seems to be quickly becoming a lost form of communication, but it really means a lot to people. When I gave little notes to my colleagues at the beginning of the school year, you would have thought I had given them a million dollars! They were amazed that someone took the time to write a note…really reminded me of the importance of the little things. Thanks for sharing your idea!
Ok… you are awesome! This was so nice to read! I hope you don’t mind but I have to copy you and do this. I always have those moments when I think, “man, I really need to give Suzy a call, or visit Jane, or drop off a gift to Maria”, you know! This is so nice, and I now know why I keep coming back to your blog. You are a special mama!
What a wonderful idea! I might have to steal that one… Currently we have no system. For a while I was involved in a mother’s group and I was in charge of the “Angel Mommies”, we’d put together a care package for one mom in the group per month, send out cards to those who needed a little encouragement, etc. I’m so glad you wrote this post, what a good reminder to do it on a personal level as well.
Love it! I’m stealing your idea. :)
did you give your daughter bangs? something looks different (in a good way of course). she looks so much cuter and almost older in a way.
you’ve got great helpers.
we often take artwork and send it out to different friends and family with a little note of encouragement. or sometimes the kids and i leave a fun family message on someone’s answering machine.
it’s the little things that count.
I love your method and I’m glad you posted about it. I have been considering my list of 101 goals in 1001 days and I have been composing a post about why it isn’t “artificial” to make a list that includes things like make a meal for someone or send a letter or give a gift for no reason.
As your title implies, kindness is intentional. Not usually random. Making a choice (and a plan) to do something for someone else isn’t artificial or dis-genuine at all. It’s intentional!
GREAT idea! Such a good lesson to teach your children too! I think I may have to use this one! =)
I don’t have a system per se…but for some reason I remember birthdays really well, and I like to make sure that my friends’ birthdays are celebrated. I like to have treats waiting for them at work, or send something to their home (especially as each of us starts to hit the big 3-0). ;o)
I really love your POW idea, though! I just might start doing that with my little girl. What a great way to model Christ’s love and be an example of caring for them! Great job! :)
What a fantastic idea! Do you just put people in the jar as they occur to you or is there a magic number of names?
I don’t have an intentional system for encouraging people but I think it may be time to set one up.
Wow! That is an AMAZING idea! I try to do things for people I think of but that would help so much more.
Great idea! I think I might do this at our house! Thanks for sharing!
I love this idea so much I think I’m going to borrow it. This has been a constant struggle for me – how to find the time to still reach out to my friends and family without being overwhelmed or forgetting anyone :)
Thanks for the great tip, I’m sure Sugar and Goose will think it’s a lot of fun too!
These are really good ideas!
I try to remember to do this but I don’t. I LOVE this idea and I’m going to work on it this week!
Stephanie!! What a beautiful way to teach your girls to love others. That is so creative! I ahve to start with Luke!
I don’t have any system but I might steal yours. That is such a great idea and so creative.
I LOVE this idea!!! I do believe i will start implementing this one! :)
I just stumbled across your blog today, and had to comment on how much I love this idea! I’m stealing this one, and will be doing it with my son. Well, since he’s not even two yet, it’ll be more a matter of me doing it, and he’ll be tagging along for the ride, but I love that he’ll grow up learning how to reach out to others.
WOW I’m so loving this idea! So far I’ve let my 3.5yrs old son get involved in sorting his old toys (that’s not loosing any limbs/wheels) and his old clothes then let him give it to whoever needs it around us. He’s better with the clothes, with old toys…still having a hard time letting them go lol Thanks for sharing this :)
What a wonderful idea and a great way to engage in kind acts and make it a part of your everyday living! Even though I do not have children, it’s something I am going to incporate into my weekly rituals. Thanks again, and great blog!
I read to do this somewhere but I can’t remember where. But we keep our Christmas cards and every so often we will pull them out and pray for the person or family that sent the card.
I love your idea even more and may try and implement this with my 3.5yo son. This would be a great lesson for him and it looks like it’s a lot of fun!!
I love this idea! All too often I *mean* to do someone a kindness…but then life happens and my best tintentions don’t get acted upon – I think this is a perfect way to solve that AND to show my kiddos how fun spreading kindness can be!
jen :)