Tag: acts of kindness

A Birthday Memory

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thess 5:11)

Some people don’t like celebrating or even acknowledging their birthdays, but I’ve never been that way. I view my birthday as an opportunity to connect with friends and family. It’s a time for introspection. It’s a time for fun. And in August 2020, during the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m reflecting on the birthday memory that stands out the most.

One of my most vivid birthday memories is from a couple of decades ago. (How did I get so old?!) My Chicken Soup for the Shopper’s Soul short story, “The Birthday Surprise,” is about my twentieth birthday, when I lived in Germany with my then-husband, who was in the US Army. I had been there about three months and hadn’t met many women yet. My husband was being sent on maneuvers for a few days, so I planned to spend the day alone, thousands of miles from family and friends, feeling sorry for myself. (I know, it wasn’t my finest moment.) Continue reading “A Birthday Memory” →

Birthday Reflections

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Eph 5:15–16)

I’m introspective by nature, and I like to take some time around my birthday to reflect on my life. This sort of self-reflection must have something to do with getting older. I’m quite sure I wasn’t so contemplative in my twenties.

A friend of mine recently posted about how he uses his birthday as a springboard to reflect and realign his life goals. I loved that idea, and then I realized I’ve been implementing it for a while. No wonder I liked it! Continue reading “Birthday Reflections” →

41 Acts of Kindness in 41 Days: My Birthday Challenge

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live…” (1 Sam 20:14)

In a previous blog post, I wrote about how I will turn 41 this month. I’ve challenged myself to complete forty-one acts of kindness in the forty-one days leading up to my birthday. My goal was to find as many things to do that didn’t cost money (or a minimal amount) as I could. Instead, I focused on things that took time or an effort to make a connection with someone. Continue reading “41 Acts of Kindness in 41 Days: My Birthday Challenge” →

41 Days to 41

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live…” (1 Sa 20:14)

After my fortieth birthday last year, I learned about something called 40 days to 40 in which you pick a theme and do one thing each day to fit that theme for the forty days leading up to your birthday. Since I missed out on doing it last year, I decided to do it this year, even though it’s not a milestone year. Every birthday is one to be celebrated, and each day is one for which to be thankful. This year, I’m doing 41 acts of kindness to 41. I’ll complete forty-one acts of kindness – at least one per day. I started the challenge on July 3. Continue reading “41 Days to 41” →