Go M.A.D. today! How have you made a difference?

i skated today and there was this little boy and he kept falling and i kept heling him

For the past 4 Monday's, I have sent a "card of inspiration and love" to a stranger.  While at the grocery store every Sunday, I find a card that is semi-neutral but equally inspirational.  Come Monday, I will literally open the local phone book, I ask God to guide my finger to someone who "really needs the card", close my eyes and wherever my finger lands, is where the card is goes.  Before I deposit it into the mail box, I say a prayer and ask God to guide the card to the person with love comfort and safety.  I ask God to allow them to receive it well and have it brighten their day and inspire them to pass on the goodness.  I address the envelope, place a stamp on the front, and it's off!  I've thought about not putting a return address because for me, sometimes not knowing where it comes from is more special.  However, if the address is undeliverable, I want to have it sent back so I can send it back out to someone else.  Not sure yet, what do you think?

My husband and I are in a stage of not trying/not preventing pregnancy and despite the fact we aren't truly committed to "trying" I am very hopeful that God will bless us with another child soon.  My husband is currently at a state where he would be pleased if we are but is just fine waiting too so we can pay off a few more debts first.  Therefore I am usually bit more saddened when it is apparent that this isn't the month.  I usually take this to my girlfriends who understand the feeling a bit more than my sweet husband does.  Today I was just very down and explaining it via text to my friend.  Typically when I read my friends texts I "hear" their voices in my head saying it to me.  One of her responses was simply "I understand that pain" but when I read it I heard it in the voice I hear when I read God's word or hear him when I'm praying.  That hit me like a ton of bricks - I forgotten that.  I had failed to appreciate that my Father, my Savior knew exactly how I was feeling and I wasn't alone in my sadness.  So not only did He encourage me by my dear friend's words but also she was encouraged when I told her of how He used it.  We truly serve an amazing Lord who never leaves our side and is quick to comfort us whenever we ask.

Each Monday, my kids and I try to go MAD.  We've fed a homeless man and invited him to sit with us.  I try to be extra-courteous to drivers when on the road.  I try to be a good example for Christ, and remind my kids to do the same.  But today, I MAD in my child's life: when big sister was away at a friend's house, I sat down with my 5 year old and made play-doh from scratch.  We cooked, colored and kneaded together, chatting away.  Then, I made spring rolls for lunch--again from scratch, again with the help of my little girl.  Then I watched her "perform" an original dance number for me, and we giggled for a while.  In these days of busy-ness and over-scheduling, my child really appreciated having some one-on-one "mommy time".  And I've gotten even closer to my little sweetie.  

It's actually something my dad and step-mom do every wk. When they go to the grocery store they pick up some extra snacks and drinks...then on garbage days they leave the garbage men a bag with a lunch in it. They put it out just before they come too do their drink is cold too.

I raised a puppy for Canine Companions for Independence. She graduated in May, 2010 and is working as a canine therapy dog at Autism Journeys near Salt Lake City. She's making a difference every day! (See AutismJourneys.net, and find canine therapy and Gamee's blog. Her full  name is Gamay III, but is called Gamee.
Mary Lee Bensman

We had an amazing experience with a stranger's kindness a few years ago on a beach trip. My mom (who is a single mom who works so hard to support my brother and I), young brother, and I were eating at a restaurant down in Atlantic beach.  When we were about to receive our bill, the waitress comes up to us and says "I didn't want to tell you earlier, but the couple that was sitting at the table to your left paid for your whole meal."  We did not know these people!  It was a beautiful blessing to our family and I will never forget it.  

I was doing a little "spring cleaning" this weekend, clearing my daughters closet, and drawers to make room for the school clothes that we are about to buy for her, getting rid of any clothes that she has outgrown. Today a young lady here at work, has been going thru the hardest time with her little one in the hospital and she here  working to make ends meet, was talking to me and letting me know she had no clue how she was going to buy clothes for her kids for school. She had also stated she didnt know how she was going to buy them school supplies either. I told her that i had two big trash bags full of shoes, clothes, socks, etc that my daughter has out grown that i was going to give to the donation center down the street, but she can have if she'd like. I also told her i would buy her children their school supplies as well. Its not much but she was very greatful for it.

I want to thank two people for encourging and helping me through something. They are Dana and Shellie. They are helping me get through recovery from Anorexia. They are there to help me when I'm down and are helping me find an affordable treatment place to go to. I cant say how happy I an to have found them. I believe they have saved my life!(:
Love, Jen

I have been having a difficult time lately; not being able to provide food for my children, having my car repossessed for being 3 weeks late and now with school back in session I had to buy uniforms and school supplies which I really didn't have the money to buy. Today I went to the uniform shop to buy my 11 year old son a pair of school shorts and I mentioned to the clerk that I was going to Walmart to find him some shoes. The lady that was behind me in the line insisted on buying my son a pair of shoes..she said she has been in my shoes before and just wanted to help. I couldn't thank her enough! I will always remember her for being the angel she is. Her name is Fran. Thank you sooooo much for making a difference in our lives Ms. Fran.

I've been volunteering for an international aid agency for several months now.  I offered to crochet scarves and donate them once I finish my current blanket.  I have a surplus of yarn, and I want to put it to good use. I'm hoping they can bring comfort and smiles to those who need them.

My name is Tom Schlipp and I am a disabled Veteran. This past Monday I was on my way to my car after my Doctor appointment when I saw a wheelchair next to a truck and an elderly veteran on his knees next to the truck. I thaught he had fallen, but when I got closer I realized he had a flat tire and was trying to change it himself. Here in Texas the temp was 100 degrees and his nephew showed up to help. the nephew and I insisted that he go back into the hospital and stay in the cool air. I helped remove the tire so the nephew could take it to get fixed. The man and his wife ask what they owed me, I responded
Nayhing and I would hope that the same would be done for me in a simular situation. I then said give God the glory and God bless you,

I was headed to the WI State Fair for the Third Day concert when I realized it was a "MAD" Monday.  So I decided to pay the parking fee for the vehicle behind me.  Whether or not they were going to the concert, I hope I gave them a reason to smile.  The concert was fabulous and the weather was great

I drive 3 hours once a month to see my son in prison.  I leave very early in the morning and always fill the car up and get a Coffee for the road.  I have a deal with the store manage in which leave money for the homeless to get hot coffee in the winter and something cold in the summer when they come in to warm up or cool down.  
Instead of a garage sale I take all my stuff that I do not need to the free store and it is given to people who are homeless or trying to get back on their feet.
I always leave the waitress a note about how much God loves them along with a little extra tip if I have the money.

about a month ago one of my coworkers got in a huge jam with money.. she had to bail out her boyfriend and then she had no money for food or gas to get back and forth to work. I didn't know her very well, but she came up to me and told me exactly what happened and that she had been led to me through prayer. She had no idea that just that morning i had prayed for God to help me make a difference for someone for Christ. SO i Took my coworker to the gas station and to the grocery store and when it was all said and done i gave her the information to my church, and told her that if she ever needed anything to call me and that she had a support group within the church. I have seen her every Sunday at church since then and i am proud to say that last sunday i even say her boyfriend with her.

was just at Wal-mart yesterday and noticed some coupons tucked into the plastic sleeve where the prices are placed. One was right below the item I was looking to buy. so i picked it up and it wasn't even expired! and then i noticed on the back there was a little note attached. It read: Have a great day! Pass it on! Smile haha so thank you for saving me a dollar anonymous! Smile

On Sat. my husband and I went for a bike ride along the American River Bike Trail in Sacramento and we were stopped to check out the fish on the bridge on the river, a man stopped and asked if we had a bike pump he could borrow.  He was not well prepared for a ride, he had no pump, no tube or changing equipment.  Our tires were not the same size as his so we could not give him our tube.  He borrowed our pump and filled up his tire.  I asked how far he needed to go and he said to Hazel Rd. which was a long ways to go yet.  As he was leaving I told him he could get a head start and if he needed the pump again along the way we could stop and help him.  Not too far up the trail his tire was flat again, he filled his tire up and handed the pump back to me.  I handed him back the pump to use on his ride and told him our address so he could return it when he reached his car.   Neither of us had a paper or pen.  I said if he couldn't remember the address, "Merry Christmas" and he could keep it.  He said he would remember it and return it.  An hour later he returned it to our house.  Praise God he made it back home safely.  He was very appreciative and we were thankful we could help him.

I love hearing the MAD stories on K-Love, I listen all the time.  
Sandi Glaser