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Daily Question, January 30

How can I be a source of gracious surprise for someone today?

  • Ali

    There’s a few minutes left in the rest of my day. I am the only one home. I can be a gracious surprise for myself by giving myself a warm hug (done – love it – thanks me for a simple slice of love!)

  • Hot Sauce

    Tomorrow I can be a source of gracious surprise by giving someone some of the candy I got for Christmas. It’s a small act, but it will show that I care about the people around me, and the joy from knowing someone cares is sometimes more important than the taste of chocolate or skittles.

  • grateful sea

    Here's one thing. I can draw a silly picture, put it in an envelope, and mail it to my father. I thought of this earlier but didn't want to write it until I actually did it. I DID. My father has Alzheimer's disease and can't read anymore, but he watches for the postman everyday and enjoys going out to the box to collect the mail. I think he can recognize right away when there is something from me because I always try to make the envelope crazy colorful with a fun stamp and glittery stickers...

    Here’s one thing. I can draw a silly picture, put it in an envelope, and mail it to my father. I thought of this earlier but didn’t want to write it until I actually did it. I DID. My father has Alzheimer’s disease and can’t read anymore, but he watches for the postman everyday and enjoys going out to the box to collect the mail. I think he can recognize right away when there is something from me because I always try to make the envelope crazy colorful with a fun stamp and glittery stickers. I like to imagine his surprised smile when he sees it there in the mailbox.

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  • Ose

    I really appreciate the effort each of you put into bringing support and kindness into the world and into our hearts. I don´t know if it is a surprise, 🙂 but I mean it.

    • Sheila

      What kind words! Thank-you, Ose for the goodness you bring into our World! You always have such beautiful heart-felt reflections to share. This site is such a blessing! Thank-you!!!????

  • Tanna Ablowich

    Tell my husband that I enjoy him. He is disable and retired so he’s always at home leaving no alone time for me. I believe he thinks everyone should have alone time and feels badly that I don’t get much.

  • Elizabeth M Jones

    I think by making a special effort and to go out of my way to say something kind and uplifting to somebody.

  • Aine

    I agree with Kevin. I think we just do the best we can to be grace filled in our own beings, then that grace cannot help but spill like sunshine where it needs to go.

    Some will see our offerings as grace, where others would see being offered grace as a threat or challenge. In the end, all we can do is offer.

  • danette

    Truly listen, without reservation or judgement.

    • grateful sea

      A beautiful gift you will be giving.

    • TiDi

      This is SO important, so thanks Danette! To TRULY listen, and to do so without reservation OR judgment.. now that last part is really difficult.. But doable.

  • Deb

    Being open to the opportunity then acting on it.

  • Trevor

    By doing what Francine said.

  • Francine Marie Tolf

    I love the phrase “gracious surprise.” It’s what I feel when someone is unexpectedly kind to me. I hope to show someone unexpected kindness today.

  • Springerlady

    Its a cold snowy day…. I think I need to buy flowers for someone today….

  • Sheila

    This morning I saw a lady in the apt complex where I live and she said, “Good morning, if it is a good morning”. I said, “I am awake and alive, we have power, heat and water. We are blessed”. She look surprised and said, “Oh, positive, we need happy”. It was all so spontaneous. It was a source of gracious surprise for both of us.
    Peace to all.????

  • kathleen

    To me this implies noticing others but it also implies a planned reaction and this does seem genuine. . I want to be aware of others and be kind. Perhaps I can be a source of gracious surprise for myself by noticing, acknowledging and honoring in myself all the ways I am thoughtful and positive. ( I have a habit of pushing myself instead of being gentle towards myself)

    • Sheila

      Love this, Kathleen! I, too can be hard on myself. Thank-you for your sharing, very helpful!
      Wishing you a good day!????

  • Doreen Nixon

    Along with a warm greeting and smile, I can generously tip the delivery man and thank him kindly.

  • Chester

    Intentionally give when/if provoked to irritation or anger.

    • Anna

      This is very hard, maybe the hardest suggestion I am reading, but maybe it is a good “incipit” for spreading peace between people who has different opinions. And this is a common circumstance today.
      I am grateful to you Chester, for this honest sharing.

  • Rich

    As Kevin stated below we cannot affect how others react to our actions, but I do think by showing others kindness when they are experiencing negative emotions can help spread grace to them. Often a kind gesture can go a long way to making someones day better. I know it has for me.

  • Grateful Beekeeper

    So many of the people I encounter in the course of a day seem so starved for graciousness that the smallest gesture of kindness on my part seems to catch them off-guard and disarm them. Sadly, it’s easy to surprise others with grace because they do NOT expect to encounter it. When someone cuts me off in traffic and I manage somehow to muster the grace to simply wave and smile at the person, the surprise is so evident in their face that I can sometimes actually SEE it behind a closed car wind...

    So many of the people I encounter in the course of a day seem so starved for graciousness that the smallest gesture of kindness on my part seems to catch them off-guard and disarm them. Sadly, it’s easy to surprise others with grace because they do NOT expect to encounter it. When someone cuts me off in traffic and I manage somehow to muster the grace to simply wave and smile at the person, the surprise is so evident in their face that I can sometimes actually SEE it behind a closed car window. Even if I can’t see their facial expression, I can be fairly sure that they were just surprised by grace!

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  • Kevin

    I am not sure how, or why, I would need or want to be a source of gracious surprise to anyone today. I’d rather just be who I am to those I meet today like any other day. How others might respond to me today is principally their choice and not mine anyway.

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