Christmas 365 - The Beginning

I'm on a quest.  After surviving a frantic and very stressful Christmas, I have decided that the time for me to change is now.  I don't want to experience Christmas like that anymore...running here, running there, making sure no detail is left undone so that the ones I love know that I love them.  What madness is that?!  I prayed.  I sought the Lord.  I got this great idea!  Christmas truly should be celebrated everyday of the year.  Now this can mean many things...but through prayer, I felt the Lord leading me to do intentional acts of kindness for at least one person at least once a day. "Intentional" is a very important word in that last sentence...

I got really excited! I thought it would be great!  I imagined myself looking at loved ones and strangers and randomly giving them something or doing something and saying "Merry Christmas!!" even if it happened to be April or October.  Yes - I can be zany that way!  I'm on day four of my quest and reality has set in.  I'd like to share my journey with you as one day, I may need your help for inspiration or suggestions.  I may also need your prayers as I have a feeling this journey is going to be deeper, bigger and more transformational than I can imagine.  I won't hold back...and I pray if you have a thought or comment, that you won't either.  The Lord is moving in this...to what end?  I cannot now imagine.  Here it is so far:

Day 1 (1/1/11) - Completely forgot about Quest

Day 2 (1/2/11) - Remembered Quest - but had just gotten in bed for the night...promised myself I wouldn't forget again.

Day 3 (1/3/11) - Thought about Quest all day...prayed and thought about it...but as I didn't have a plan, I didn't execute.  Don't get me wrong - I did nice, helpful things...but nothing "intentional."  I realized this was going to take more time and effort than I first thought.  As I was getting ready for bed (just a tad disappointed in myself), promised I would get stickers and tags that say "Christmas 365" and that way if I buy someone a Coke, I can stick a sticker on it and it will count.  I also promised I would get a plan.

Day 4 (1/4/11) - No plan needed today!  As I was commuting to work in the rain, I saw a lady standing at a bus stop.  She was drenched and trying to stand still as though that would help her be less wet.  I watched her and in an instant, I knew.  I turned the corner and pulled up alongside her and I gave her my umbrella.  She was completely stunned and thought I was kidding.  I wasn't.  She was so grateful.  When she reached for the umbrella, I said, "Merry Christmas, God loves you."  And that was that.  It was awesome!  It left me feeling so amazing!  I thanked the Lord for such a wonderful opportunity and I prayed for the lady at the bus stop...that she would know God and His love for her.  Now although that wasn't planned, I think it counts as "intentional."  I had a choice to make and I know I made the right one.  I pray it made a difference to her...and I didn't even need a sticker to accomplish my mission.  Nice!

I have an idea about tomorrow...  I'm formulating my plan...  This is tough but I think the trick is to not over-think it, to just pick someone you know and/or love and plan something meaningful for them to know how you feel about them...a nice note, a nice gesture...something, anything.  I'll be keeping a list in my journal so I don't forget and so I can see how the Lord will work.  This is very exciting!  And when Christmas rolls around this year...everyone I know, and even people I don't, will know that I care about them, love them...and even more importantly...that God loves them and is watching out for them...

Until tomorrow...  Annie