National Random Acts of Kindness Day—Learning to Support Others Through Kindness
By Keziah H.
Be Kind words and a flower drawn with sidewalk chalk - temporary art by Charise Wilson Photography from Getty Images Created in Canva
When people think of February, the holiday that most often comes to mind is Valentine’s Day, where love is celebrated with hearts, balloons, and usually, lots of chocolate. However, February has another important holiday, one that celebrates the concept of kindness–National Random Acts of Kindness Day and National Random Acts of Kindness Week.
In America, Random Acts of Kindness Day is on February 17th, and the week of February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Week. In New Zealand, however, where the holiday supposedly originated, it is actually celebrated far later in the year, on September 1st. (National Random Acts of Kindness Day) Regardless of what day of the year it is, doing kind things for others is a great idea, and having a certain day to do it can be a good reminder.
So, what are some kind things you can do on Random Acts of Kindness Day? The possibilities are endless, but some include leaving kind notes for someone, paying for another person’s meal or groceries, or taking flowers to people in the hospital (National Random Acts of Kindness Day). Of course, that is not all you can do! At NorthStar, students are kind throughout the year, doing many thoughtful acts for others. Some of these were chores, like washing and putting away dishes for their parents and picking things up off the floor when their siblings forgot. Others were just considerate acts, like being quiet when someone had to record a video and holding the door open for another person. One NSA student said that they give stickers to other people unexpectedly, which is a great idea to do on Random Acts of Kindness Day. Finally, one student said they have “given the Indian scammers money because they need it.” That is probably just a joke, but using humor to cheer someone up can be helpful, too!
Ultimately, true kindness comes from God alone, who created us to glorify Him and then gave up His only Son to save us despite our wickedness, showing the ultimate act of love. The Bible says that God lavishes His kindness on us, and wants us to be kind as well, stating in Proverbs 21:21, “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor” (“Bible Gateway Passage: Proverbs 21:20-22 - English Standard Version”). So, this holiday is a great way to follow in His example, treating others with love and respect and having a servant heart. Have a very happy Random Acts of Kindness Day!
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Keziah H. lives in East Africa with her parents, two brothers, and a mischievous puppy named Bandit. This is her fifth and last year at NorthStar, and her second year at the Navigator. She likes to read almost any book she can get her hands on, but especially fantasy books. She also enjoys creative writing, coming up with awesome ideas with her brothers, and playing outside. She has been writing stories ever since she can remember and hopes to be an author when she grows up.