Christmas is generally accepted as a season of kindness and giving, but in truth, Bronner’s loves sharing the spirit of kindness all year long. Without a doubt, you’ll want to join us in celebrating others’ acts of kindness with a special Valentine’s Day GIVEAWAY!
Kindness and Christmas
Christ and Acts of Kindness
Acts of kindness are central to our Christmas celebration here at Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland. After all, we remember God’s gracious gift of salvation, initiated with the coming of Christ to earth that first Christmas.
Additionally, the ministry of Jesus leading up to His sacrifice on the cross was the utmost example of a life lived with acts of kindness always in mind.
St. Nicholas and Acts of Kindness
As we watch Santa Claus greet children, we can’t help but recall his beginnings as Saint Nicholas. In short, Nicholas was a bishop of the early church and legendary giver of gifts and performer of acts of kindness who continues to be celebrated in many countries to this day!
Charles Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge
Thirdly, we share the words of Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”: “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.”
Celebrating LOVE With An Acts of Kindness GIVEAWAY
What better way to celebrate Valentine’s than to encourage each other to practice kindness all year long? As a result, we’re hosting a special giveaway to give honor to acts of kindness.”
To Enter
With this purpose in mind, share in the comments below a memorable act of kindness you have bestowed or received by 11:59 p.m. February 13, 2022.
The Prize – “Acts of Kindness”
Finally, the winner will receive this wonderful, retired Snowbabies© collectible titled, “Acts of Kindness” (#6008141) from Department 56.
Our team will review all comments submitted by 11:59 p.m. February 13, and announce a winner on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2022.
(Please note that as a result of entering Bronner’s giveaway and submitting a memory of a kindness on our blog, you give us permission to possibly share it on our social channels.)
What’s more, you must be 18 or older to enter. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and void where prohibited. In any case, Bronner’s staff and immediate family members are not eligible.
Bronner’s reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the giveaway at any time.
As shown below, the sweet Snowbaby holds a newspaper with a headline touting the virtue of extending kindness. (This Snowbaby is retired and limited in availability.)
Shop Snowbabies at bronners.com or visit our Frankenmuth, Michigan, store for a larger selection.
Bronner’s Be My Valentine 14% Off Sale
In addition, Bronner’s “Be My Valentine Sale” runs from February 1-28, 2022. As a result, see Bronners.com for full details.
LOVE savings? Check out our post to see how to get coupons for Bronner’s.
Contest Winner Pays It Forward!
Thank you to everyone who shared a story of an act of kindness. Undoubtedly, your experiences touched our team. By all means, they found it difficult to select one winner.
However, Heather’s story of a stranger’s kindness as she escaped an abusive relationship and started a new life captured their attention and garnered their votes.
The kindness continues from our winner Heather in Bronner’s “Acts Of Kindness” Snowbaby giveaway as she wishes pay it forward.
Because Heather’s redemptive act of kindness took place in Michigan, she’s asked that the figurine be donated to a shelter or program in Michigan to encourage and give hope to other survivors. Indeed, we are pleased to announce that Christina Tipton accepted the Acts of Kindness Snowbaby figurine along with Heather’s framed story on behalf of Traverse Place in Genesee County.
Be sure to read Heather’s story and the many other fine acts of kindness that were shared in the comments below.
I JUST TURNED 70 YEARS OLD. MY HUSBAND DIED 14 YEARS AGO.
I WENT TO THE OLYMPIC MUSEUM HERE IN COLORADO SPRINGS.
I WAS GETTING ALL THE INFORMATION AND COLLECTED FOR
MY FRIEND WHO IS CARING FOR HIS MOTHER IN KANSAS.
I WAS ALL ALONE AND THEN I HEARD HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
IT WAS MY FREIND LAWRENCE WHO HAD DRIVEN FROM KANSAS TO VISIT
THE MUSEUM AND MEET PEGGY FLEMING. UPON HEARING IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY
THE GREAT SKATER HUGGED ME. WHAT A GREAT WAY TO BEGIN MY 70TH YEAR.
WHAT KINDNESS!
Recently our small city in Texas was among the many who experienced freezing rain, snow and bad weather. We have a young rookie police officer who came to do his shift prepared. He brought his cot and extra clothes to be able to stay at the police department and patrol the city. He told the Chief to go home and check on his family. During this young mans shift, overnight the weather worsened and he stayed in the city helping stranded residents and those who needed help at their house. What an ACT OF KINDNESS he showed to our entire city. It makes me extremely proud that we have such a dedicated Police Officer and Police Force.
I don’t like rooting my own horn. But I have a dear friend that help in different ways. She holds auctions to support her family and fur family. I participated in her auctions. I donate to her auctions. I get her vitamins that she needs and other things that she is unable to get in her area. By blessing her I get blessed myself.
I have a dear friend that I’ve known most of my life, who is on a kidney transplant list and goes to dialysis 3 times a week. This great friend goes to dialysis and then afterwards, goes and plows driveways, including ours, without being asked or receiving compensation. He refuses payment of any kind for doing it, we’ve tried. We recently had a horrific snowstorm over the last 2-3 days and he plowed our driveway twice during the heart of the storm. I love this guy dearly and pray that a donor is found soon for him. Thank you for allowing me to share this….
I am thankful and grateful for all the many acts of kindness my husband does for neighbors, friends, family and even stranger’s when the need arises. He will use his master carpentry skills to help restore, build a structure or remodel if that’s what’s needed. He will help someone in need of maintenance or repair of a small engines. In the summer he will mow a neighbors lawn. In the fall he will rake neighbors leaves. In the winter he will help neighbors by shoveling walks and driveway’s. In the spring he has even helped to plant a neighbors grass with seed. I am blessed that he will surprise me while I am at work by sweeping and washing our floors. My husband is retired and our children are grown. Some day’s he might be watching our grandchildren if needed or just the neighbor kids-allowing their mom’s to get a few chores of their own done. I often come home to find a home made fort in the driveway along with two to six neighborhood children having a blast playing pirates with homemade swashbuckling swords or my husband using a homemade bottle rocket launcher shooting empty plastic water bottles while the kids are joyfully retrieving them. The neighbor kids might be given sled rides in the snow or help with building a snow fort in the front yard. The bicycle and scooters that zip down the driveway and the chalk art that decorates it often are tell tale signs that Big Jim was asked to come out to play!
Every winter season I am bestowed an act of kindness by my next-door neighbor. Ever since he moved in here he has always snow plowed or shoveled any snow I received during the winter. As an older woman I am very grateful. He doesn’t ask for money and refuses it when I offer it. He just does it as a good Samaritan. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am for his kindness to me. I also know he has helped other people in the neighborhood. I know this may sound like a small act of kindness, but to me it is immeasurable in my world. Thank you.
One of the kindest things someone ever did for me was by a student. I taught elementary music, and one day I had an especially challenging class. Their behavior, and my struggle to deal with it, left me in a down mood. As I walked down the hallway, one of the sweet little girls from that class came down the hall and gave me a piece of paper. On it, she’d drawn a picture, with a note that said “Sorry we were bad for you in music today.” I teared up, and gave her a hug–and instantly my day was better!
Both my husband and I have back problems. Once talking to our next door neighbor, my husband mentioned in passing that he was going to have back surgery soon. Ever since then, every winter he has shoveled our entire driveway, sidewalk, and approach coming up to the front porch. He just does it on his own, and we have thanked him profusely. We have tried to give him small tokens of appreciation, but he was actually embarrased to accept them. Despite a slight language barrier, he has shown such acts of kindness to us . Actions speak louder than words!
My act of kindness was when I was working in retail an older woman come she said she was shopping for a family in need for Thanksgiving dinner so I gave her enough to get the whole with all the trimmings
I work at a gas station and I had a couple trying to get some gas to go to the local children’s hospital to visit their sick child. They couldn’t get any of their cards to work and had no cash except some change. It was less than a dollar. the mother began crying so I went to see what was wrong and they told me what was going on. I not only paid for a tank of gas for them but also pumped it for them as well while the mother was trying to compose herself. She asked how to repay me for my kindness and I just told her to pay it forward sometime in the future.
Portraying Santa doesn’t stop on December 25. Thinking my help as Santa was over, I went to a local grocery store to return pop cans. As I talked with the teenager in charge of the area how his Christmas was, he was sad for his mom. I went into Santa mode and listened. The high school Senior was hurting big time. His story broke me heart. His mother had to have his younger brother institutionalized fir a mental illness. Mom feared for the boy’s instability and sought help. I had lived through that with my own mom. Who had been institutionalized when I was a child. His watched over us ask talked uninterrupted for 20 minutes. Through God’s grace I was able to not only comfort him but give his mom my understanding and love that she did the right thing as a loving Mom. Both missed the youngster because he wasn’t allowed to be home for Christmas. I explained that I helped being a Santa Claus to help St. Nicholas out. Santa does not just ask fir Christmas wishes but as all the Santa’s know, we offer our prayers. At the end the Pinckney Senior was smiles talking about his future with his dad and his future. I told him to give his mom a hug snd tell her that she did the right thing and that I was proud of her. To my surprise we met at a fast food place the next day where he recognized me in front of his friends and thanked me for our chat. I gave him and his friend my Santa card to keep in touch. laughed when his closet friend asked me to visit him where they both worked. Who would know Santa would help this beautiful young man. I am so unworthy to fit the shoes of a saint. I simply opened my heart and listened.
This is a selfless act of caring that I received back in 1992. I am an insulin department diabetic since I turned 12 and the affects of the disease had taken it’s toll on my kidneys which completely failed in 1990. I began home dialysis and the workup to receive a kidney transplant. My immediate family was tested to determine if any of the three were a match and we found out my Mom was a match. I soul searched for almost 2 years before I came to terms with accepting her generous Second Gift of Life! The transplant was successful and it’s lasted almost twice as long as the medical expectations for 27 years. I am so externally grateful for my second chance at life.
I am a counselor. When someone comes into my life thru my church in need, I help them with individual counseling, cost isn’t an issue at that time. You see, I’ve walked through times in my life when I wish I had someone to talk to, times when I didn’t have extra to spend on counseling. God has walked with me and so if I can help someone in need then let me be Gods hands in this. God has blessed me with a gift of mercy so if I can share with others then I will, so they may feel better in their world and know they’re not alone.
When I was 19, I was in an incredibly abusive relationship. I tried to leave several times and he finally locked me in a basement. I could have gone to my mother but I was so ashamed I had ended up in the situation. I saw an ad for a job in the newspaper that provided housing that was on mackinaw island which was far away and I figured he couldn’t find me. I managed to escape and had just enough money for a bus ticket to mackinaw city. I had nothing but a backpack with me and no money. I was scared, hungry, dirty and tired. The bus stopped to let people stretch their legs and get some food and, since I had no money, I sat off to the side waiting, trying not to drool. Suddenly an older man came to me, handed me a to-go box of food and a bottle of water and said “ I don’t know what you are running from gal, but it looks like the devil himself”. He then handed me several grocery bags full of food. I tried to tell him I was ok, thanks, and he told me something that stays with me to this day – it is selfish if you don’t let people help you when you truly need it. He then walked away and I had the absolute best sandwich I’ve ever eaten. I don’t know where this man came from – I didn’t recognize him from the bus and he wasn’t on the bus when we left – but his act of kindness gave me strength to continue my journey and get my life right. That was 25 years ago, but I will never forget, and I will forever be grateful and pay it forward.
Congratulations, Heather! Your act-of-kindness story was selected the winner by our team. Please email me at Lori.Libka@bronners.com with your full name and mailing address, and I will have the Acts of Kindness Snowbaby shipped to you. Thank you.
My husband and I have the Beaufort Chalkboard. We put a chalkboard in our front yard when Covid started to thank essential workers. It has exploded from there. I write posts meant to inspire. Sometimes it’s for mental health sometimes it’s to make you laugh or just to remind you to pray and be kind. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We’ve been able to some wonderful things for our community. We’ve helped so many projects and met so many fabulous people. Our yard was decorated in Bronners decorations for Christmas. I bought one piece a month for our nativity. We love our chalkboard and our community.
Handkerchief of faith
My husband and I were visiting a church and after the service a dear sweet lady blessed me with a handkerchief she had embroidered around the edge. She said to me, please take this, be blessed, its been prayed over and God knows your needs and hears your prayers. I was so, so touched and expressed that to her, she then gave me another one for me to bless someone else.
Then as I was walking out of the church and smiling at people as you do, I felt to pass the other one she gave me to a lady and her teenage daughter. They were visiting too and that her daughter needed guidance and felt the Lord brought them here this particular day. I felt humbled by the small part in paying it forward of being blessed and being a blessing.
We live in Australia and it was a church in Kentucky where I experienced this in 2019. I’ll never forget that dear lady.
My family has been running the local Little League Challenger Division, a baseball league for children & adults with special needs, for 16 years. When Covid hit in 2020 and all the Mall Santa Claus’s were either cancelled or put behind plexiglass, my wife and I opened our house to our players. We were dressed as Santa & Mrs Claus ( the kids did not know it was us) so the kids had the opportunity to visit and take pictures and receive a small gift from Santa. It was fabulous! We had as much fun as the kids. Nothing like seeing children smile and laugh! It went so well, we did it again in 2021.
I have shown many acts of kindness throughout my life. They were done through my heart and there they shall remain. I choose to keep them private as they should be. So do to that reason I cannot share specific information.
My personal memorable Act of Kindness has been in helping to cook a community Thanksgiving dinner at a local church. The families and people who benefit from this free Thanksgiving meal are so appreciative of all the people who give their time and talents to make this meal taste and look just like one that your Grandmother would cook. Make no mistake, this is not a soup kitchen meal! We also make sure there are leftovers in takeout boxes for each family, or person, as who doesn’t relish that leftover turkey sandwich later on! I miss eating dinner with my own family on Thanksgiving, but they have come to expect that and we have our Thanksgiving celebration another day instead. And I always bring dinner for my own husband and we enjoy that on Thanksgiving Day once I get home. It has been something I look forward doing every year now.
My father passed on January 9th. When the hospice nurse called the Nelson House Funeral Home the director there told him to give me a hug. I had never met Kevin Kruegger in person, just worked with him on the phone when I worked at Human Services for the State of Michigan. When I went in to plan the services for my father, he gave me another hug. Every time I go into the funeral home he comes and gives me a big hug. He makes my days a lot better knowing that there are people out there that actually care about how people are feeling in a terrible time in there lives.
When I think of acts of kindness, I think about the little things. I joined my current church 18 years ago, and since that time, I vowed that ever adult would receive a birthday card and a small gift each year on their birthday. Many people do not have family, or someone to remember their birthdays. This is one small way that I have found to be a special blessing to people.
I work for Frito lay and I was bring in a lot of boxes this particular day I had my dolly and it was completely full to the top with boxes usually most people don’t even hold the door open for you they’re just too concerned about getting what they need to get in get out and that’s OK I have no problem with that what.this particular day my boxes all the way to the top and this young girl and her mother held the door open for me so I can get in with no problem I greatly appreciate that well they had got their stuff I was waiting to check in and they were a couple dollars short in my frame of mind is when you do right to others right comes to you so they were gonna put some things back and I told her no that I will pay for it they said you don’t have to do that I said I knowWhen you’re nice to people kindness comes back to you so I went ahead and paid for everything that they had came out about 12bucks and they were greatly appreciated and I appreciated them for helping me out because they didn’t have two. kindness compassion we all need to pass it around.
Let me tell you a story. I went to my local grocery store to pick up some groceries. When I get to the checkout there’s a gentleman with one item. I told him to go first because he’s only got the one item. And then you know what happens-he insists on paying for all of my groceries. I never thought I would be the recipient of a Good Samaritan. I thanked him and we exchanged “Merry Christmas”. It is such a blessing to be able to be a witness to one of God’s angels handiwork here on earth. ❤️
Good morning Lori!
It’s Tracy Walker, from Ontario, Canada…my hubby and I are very big Bronners lovers, have met , been interviewed by you, and have had a wonderful story done on us by you..How are you Lori??.I realize that we are Canadian, and are not eligible for this contest sadly, but I thought I’d give you a little story about thankfulness…as you know, my husband Sean does a big outdoor display , every year, in our small town. We have alot of admirers, young and old alike, and they love to stop and take pictures , videos, etc…We have bought SO MUCH STUFF from Bronners over the years, that we could probably decorate the entire neighbourhood! We love our Bronners!!!!
Anyway, This year there was a local city contest for the best lighting display…well, you’ve guessed it! Sean won! Its a testament to our very special, very beautiful decorations from Bronners…
We are VERY THANKFUL that our city enjoys the work that Sean goes to for Christmas every year..he does it to make people feel like a kid again, to take a moment and revel in the beautiful sights and sounds of childhood, and to forget about everything that’s happening in our all-to-complicated world…
We hope you had a happy family Christmas Lori, and hopefully we’ll be able to see you in 2022!!
Tracy Walker
So good to hear from you, Tracy. Congratulations to Sean for winning your city’s lighting display contest! It’s so very kind of him to share the joy of the season and spirit of Christmas through his display. 🙂 Sure hope to see you two in 2022!
My memorable act of kindness bestowed as I was taught at a young age is to be kind through a gesture such as a smile, through an act by paying it forward such as treating someone behind me in the drive thru or a positive comment such as a compliment all of which can change the day or life path for an individual. I donate my time as timekeeper and deck help for swimming and timekeeper for track and field along with donate money to a charity most dear to my heart; Special Olympics.
My husband and I were headed to Florida on January 13, 2022 for several weeks with our 5th Wheel. There was an accident at I75 and US40 near Chatanooga. We were re-routed to a different route, which turned out to be disastrous. The road was very narrow, windy and hilly with lots of blind curves. As we entered one of these curves, a pickup truck entered from the opposite direction. Fearing that the road was too narrow for both of us, my husband moved slightly to the right. Even slightly was a bit too much on this narrow Tennessee road as the wheels of the 5th Wheel dropped 12 to 18 inches off the road into the berm. The 5th Wheel was declared a total loss, but fortunately my husband and I had no injury whatsoever. Two days later, as we were preparing to move the contents of the 5th Wheel home, another camper knocked on our door. He handed me a restaurant gift card. I must have looked really confused so he told me that he felt so terrible about what had happened to us and that we would have to eat on the way home. This one simple act of kindness was so totally unexpected that it truly helped brighten an otherwise very gloomy day.
My act of kindness isn’t what I have done but what our nephew does for us. He comes over everyweek to roll out our trash and comes back the next day to bring the bins back in. My husband and i are both mobility challenged so his help is much appreciated. Our nephews call and stop to see if we need anything. From changing light bulbs to moving furniture and dusting high shelves. They are the light of my life. Their kindness means the world to us.
Thank you for the opportunity to share.