26 Random Acts of Kindness at NanaHood -

As I write my post this morning I am acutely aware of what happened last Friday. How can anyone forget the senseless tragedy that occurred in Newtown? All week it has felt like a black cloud has been following me around, lurking just above my head. Like thousands of other people around the world I have wondered all week long if there was anything I could do that might ease the pain and suffering those families are experiencing.

Then last night my husband and I were watching “Rock Center” on NBC when I learned of news correspondent Ann Curry’s idea. It’s simple really. Perform 26 acts of kindness, one for every child and adult killed in Newtown. She announced her idea on Sunday and by Wednesday, the hashtag “26acts” was trending on Twitter, and a “26 Acts of Kindness” Facebook page had exceeded 19,000 “likes.”

If you Google 26 Acts of Kindness you will see that the idea is already all across America. There are examples (complete with photos) of the many things people are doing for each other.

Last week, soon after I learned of the shooting, I kept thinking about a specific verse in the Bible.

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

When I heard about Ann Curry’s idea I realized that her idea was merely putting legs on what the Bible had already told me to do!

There are lots of examples online of these acts of kindness. Here are just a few that I saw.

1. Visit someone in the nursing home who doesn’t usually have visitors.

2. Send a card to someone who recently lost a loved one and let them know you are thinking of them.

3. Pay the toll at the toll booth for the person in line behind you.

4. Offer to work at a soup kitchen.

5. Send “thank you” cards to first responders.

6. Donate a toy to children in the hospital. (or 26 toys!)

Keep going….I know you can think of 26!

To see what others are doing go to http://www.facebook.com/26acts