Hidden Works

Quite a few times I've blogged that when we do some good work in this world that we should do it in such a way that as few people as possible know what we have done. There are some reasons why.

One, it's something Yeshua/Jesus the Christ requested: To do things in secret so that only God sees. OK.... but we may still want to know WHY He requested this.

One reason, as I've mentioned before, is so that we step away from the rewards that result from doing good works publicly. This public recognition becomes the reward and causes us to focus more on ourselves and less on others. We need to take our eyes from ourselves in order to grow inside.

The good works will stand on their own; let THAT light shine, not your own.

Playing the "secret santa" of doing good works in hidden ways can actually be quite fun. :D

And, one I have learned but have yet to mention: if we do good for another and they are aware of it, often they are left with the feeling/belief that they must reciprocate - even if they cannot afford to do so. So instead of doing good and helping another, we leave someone with the debt they cannot easily repay. But if they do not know to whom they have received the kindness, they are less likely to harm themselves - physically or financially - to repay that debt. Instead, they may be moved to pay it forward helping when and as they can.

Recently, I helped a friend who was struggling financially, as I have helped others and been helped by others in the past. I've told this person, as has been told to me and I've mentioned to others, "pay it forward when you can." This person, however, felt very indebted to me, and he insisted on repaying my kindness. I received a VERY expensive Christmas gift when he was still out of work and should not have spent the money. I still feel pretty terrible about this. :(

It IS sometimes best to do things hidden...

How can you do it hidden, you ask?

• If you know of someone who is struggling to pay their bills, call up their local phone or electricity provider and offer to pay a portion of their bill. They will see a payment received and a smaller bill, and most companies will allow a person to pay anonymously - collecting your personal information only to process the payment and not tell the person you help.
  
• Buy some bagels or other food goods from a place who delivers and have them deliver the goods to a local food bank or shelter.
• Purchase gift cards/certificates, phone cards or prepaid visa cards and get them anonymously to someone who needs them (ie. drop in the mailbox), ship them to vets/troops overseas or any who may benefit from your kindness.
  
• If you know someone is feeling down/alone/depressed, make up a small assortment of cookies, flowers or something small and cheerful and leave them hanging on their doorknob at home or on their desk, locker or workspace.
• If there is someone who struggles shoveling snow, get out there early. Granted snow-blowers make noise, but clearing off cars can be pretty quiet on a winter morning. Even shoveling can be done quietly and quickly.
• Purchasing food at a local supermarket and leaving it at someone's home is an idea, but use caution not to lure animals and know which door the person uses daily.
• Pick up trash someone carelessly dropped to the sidewalk, curb or elsewhere and put it in the proper receptacle.
• Stop to help a disabled driver, using caution as there are those who use that as a trap. :(
• Smile at a stranger; say hello, good morning or comment on the weather.
• Show up at a place where there are volunteers working and offer to help. If you must sign in, use your first name only and smile.
• If you see someone having difficulty reaching something on a high shelf, wordlessly reach up and hand it to them with a smile. The same applies if they are struggling with a heavy or cumbersome load; go over and help them with it.
  
• When you pay for your food at the supermarket, there is often a way to add a donation (either goods or monetary) to your local food bank.
• There are countless non-profits that collect anonymous donations, large and small. Often at places like your local place of worship or your supermarket, there are drop-boxes for donated goods or money.
• When you open a door, check and hold it open for the people that are behind you.
  
• If you're going through a drive-thru, pay for the people behind you. You never know who you may help or how they may be touched. I've heard wondrous stories from the DC area of one movement there. :D
  

Many more ideas can be added to the list above. This is just a sampling. There are innumerable ways to share a kindness with others in this world each day. Most cost little to nothing.

I'd like to hear more if any of my readers don't mind sharing their ideas. Hopefully we can inspire one another.

Random acts of kindness
Throughout the world
Hidden though

-ESA