During life’s hardest moments, small acts of kindness can bring light and joy. The love of friends and family – through thoughtful gifts, messages, and prayer – can keep us going. Gestures like these remind us that we are not alone. Who could you encourage today with a little love and laughter?
When it rains, look for rainbows – what a great saying! It was one that encouraged me through a difficult time, and one that my friends and family picked up on with many rainbow-themed gifts.
Feeling loved is so important, especially when you’re down. Being able to laugh in the face of adversity is a winner!
When I was going through treatment for cancer, I experienced times of bleakness. The chemo, surgery and radiotherapy all zapped the life out of me. But I knew I was loved. I had amazing friends and family who kept me going at a time when I was struggling. I knew I was loved because I was sent a steady stream of messages, visits and parcels and commitment to pray for me. And the kindness I received from my place of work was beyond what I could have asked for or imagined. This included a head shave, cooked meals, cakes and walks. But then Ripple Effect is all about loving our neighbours – the families we work alongside in rural Africa and our colleagues!
My old school friend, Deborah, was 100% committed to making sure I would laugh all through my treatment. I would receive the most random boxes filled with love and laughter, from sparkly bubble bath, to a plug in disco ball, to sweets we used to enjoy as children (fruit salads and black jacks!), to party poppers. The more random the better!
Each delivery gave me a huge amount of joy, not just from the gifts, but knowing that every item had been chosen carefully and sent with love.
These acts of kindness below were among many acts of kindness and generosity which helped me through some very dark times.
Anne Hatton, Ripple Effect
Reflect
"The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:31 (NIV)
Pray
Pray for those going through dark and difficult times, that they may feel surrounded by love, support, and encouragement. Give thanks for the gift of friends, family and communities who bring joy and hope through their kindness and generosity. Ask God to open your eyes to someone who might need a reminder that they are loved, and for inspiration to offer meaningful acts of kindness, no matter how small.
Act
Acts for you to consider today:
| Send a small, thoughtful gift to bring joy to someone going through a tough time. | ||
| Create a box of fun or comforting items like treats, candles, or a favourite book, and deliver it to someone who could use a lift. | ||
| Put together your own personalised care package for someone facing a difficult season, choosing items with love and care to brighten their day. |
Share
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About Ripple Effect
Ripple Effect is a force for change in rural Africa. It helps people grow their own futures on their own land, on their own terms.
Every day families face poverty that is extreme, cruel, and worst of all, unnecessary.
But rural Africa is rich with opportunity and where there is land, there is hope. Ripple Effect doesn't impose solutions, it helps grow them from within. That's why they work. Its African-designed solutions were developed with and for the communities it supports. Families get back the skills and confidence they need to get the most from their land. Families can grow enough food, earn a living and go after their dreams. And because the families we work with pass on what they know, success quickly multiplies, from family to family, community to community, generation to generation. Working across six African countries, we speak many languages. But in all of them, Ripple Effect has come to mean a better future.
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