Free $50 for the gas station attendant - the kids loved it

I wanted to share what our family did on Christmas Eve.  We put $50 in a Christmas card (we included a "stealth servant" card as well) and as a family we discussed if there was anyone in particular that we wanted to surprise.  We couldn't really come up with anyone so we decided to give it to the local attendant and the convenience store near our house.  When we got there, it was already closed for Christmas eve so we redirected and found that the gas station was still open at Wal-Mart.  My two young sons were excited to be involved so we all got out of the car and went to the window.  We handed the attendant the card, said Merry Christmas! and went home.  While it was great to surprise a stranger like that, it was even better to show our kids how giving truly is better than receiving.  I was able to explain to them how the good feeling they felt from giving was better than if they had both received $25 radio controlled cars.  They both agreed! (at least for a few minutes anyway).

Anonymous

I gave a stranger a free tow!

I was driving around the mall parking lot on Christmas eve and saw a tow-truck hooking up to an old Ford Explorer.  The idea popped into my head that I should pay for the tow for whoever it was.  I debated it in my head for a second and was about to drive by when I noticed that the tow-truck had "Jesus Lives" with crosses all over it.  That sealed the deal, so I drove up and asked the tow-truck driver if I could pay for the tow.  He said "Sure, do you know this guy?"  I said "No, it was just something I want to do.  It's Christmas!".  He shrugged as if to say "okay" and went about his work.  After that I met the owner of the vehicle.  He was from Kansas and his master cylinder had failed.  We talked a bit and he thanked me very much.  I paid the tow bill (which was only $40, I was glad the weren't hauling it back to Kansas!) and as I was paying the tow truck driver shook his head in disbelief, saying "I've been doing this a long time and I've never seen this before".  It was great - I made both of these guys happy as well as another bystander who witnessed the whole thing.  The only downside was that I forgot to hand him a "stealth servant" card.

Anonymous

The Real Reason to Serve!

At Christmas, we are often reminded to "remember the reason for the season".  I want to echo those sentiments for all of you "stealth servants" out there.  I am currently reading a challenging book by John Piper called "Don't Waste Your Life".  In the book, John states that if we don't see and experience joy in God, "we will probably turn God-centered motives into a kind of benevolence that tries to do good for man without knowing what the greatest good really is-namely, all-satisfying pleasure in God." 
While I want anyone and everyone to feel the joy of giving selflessly to others, it is more important to convey the love and joy of our God to the people we serve.  After all, a free coffee at the coffee shop, or a surprise "Secret Santa" gift is great, but what people really need is to know and love God. 

Merry Christmas to all of you! Be generous in all that you have and keep your stories coming.
God Bless,
Stealth Servant

PS - If you are interested in reading "Don't Waste Your Life".  It is available in .pdf format here:
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/1593_Dont_Waste_Your_Life/

Secret Santa Opportunities

Just a quick reminder to the stealth servants out there:  Christmas is a great time to start the "habit" of doing nice things for others.  This time of year there are always plenty of various needs out there that we can take care of for someone else.  Our family has always made it a point to anonymously give some money with a card to someone who might be in need.  Often we didn't even know the people.  You can leave the card on their doorstep, car window, etc.  Remember, it doesn't matter how much you can give, its definitely the thought that counts, so quit thinking about it and "Just do it!" Go out and Bless somebody and you'll find that you are Blessed too.

Stealth Servant

Free $5 at the Convenience store

I stopped at the convenience store on a business trip.  I had been thinking about "StealthServant" stuff and I decided to try it.  After I paid for my snacks, I gave the attendant $5 and a "StealthServant" card and told her to pass it on to the next customer.  I didn't stick around to see who got it, but it didn't matter, I felt good for the rest of my trip.

Anonymous

Economic Stimulus - for free!

A friend recently decided to start a business.  Knowing how difficult this is, I suggested that we meet for coffee and I brought with me a team of various business experts.  For over an hour, we reviewed my friend's business and offered specific suggestions on how to be more successful, more quickly.  These are lessons that took me months (if not years) to learn and she was absorbing it in one morning.  None of these experts were paid anything, but I think everyone felt like it was a productive morning!

Anonymous

Nice Surprise at the Bank

I was getting cash from the drive through at the bank and after I was done, I left $5 in one of the deposit envelopes in vacuum tube.  I used the "StealthServant" Card and wrote a note on the card so whoever found it would understand that it was intentionally left for them to enjoy.

A Veteran's Day Surprise

We noticed a veteran that we know having dinner at a local restaurant on Veteran's Day.  While at the restaurant we purchased a gift card to the restaurant to give to someone else.  We left the restaurant and were getting into our car when I mentioned to my husband that we should leave the gift card for the veteran.  My husband said he was thinking the same thing!  I went back in and gave the server the gift card and a "Stealth Servant" card and asked that he give them to the veteran.  It made us feel really good to do it, our only regret was that we didn't get to see the look on his face when he got the card.

Anonymous

Everyone needs a lift once in a while!

I have had a few people ask me about the best way to direct acts of service to people who "need" them.  My answer to them is "don't worry about it".  Anyone, rich or poor, can be having a bad day, week, month.  Just because someone may not be in need, doesn't mean that they wouldn't benefit by receiving a small blessing from someone for no reason.  In fact, if they are touched, someone who is a bit better off will be in a better position to be a "stealth servant" to someone else. 

Don't forget to send us your stories and e-mail us if you need cards at "stealthservant@gmail.com".

Happy Day!

I recently received a "StealthServant" card along with money in my mailbox at my office.  It's amazing to me how folks know just when you need a boost.  All the envelope said was "Happy Day".  What a blessing!  Thank you to whoever was so thoughtful.

Anonymous

Secret Santa Story

Four years ago I was blessed with a wonderful Christmas bonus from my employers.  While my family was doing ok financially, I had other family members that were struggling and concerned with how they were going to "do" Christmas for their families.  I put a $100 bill in four different envelopes and mailed them to each of the four families who were worried about the holidays and signed the card from Santa.

Holy cow was that awesome!!! We received phone calls with family members weeping on the other end of the line.  They were so happy and could not believe that someone could be so thoughtful.  Let me tell you, I wish I had the "stealthservant" cards back then.

I have been on the receiving end of generosity the past couple of years since my status has changed somewhat and I am thankful, but it sure did feel great to be the giver.

Anonymous

Christmas blessing from years ago

Many years ago, when Christmas was coming up, our church was asking
members to donate to make Christmas a little better for those who
couldn't afford things for their kids.  We wanted to donate money, but
we couldn't even pay our own bills. I had been out of work for six
months.  We were buying food on credit cards just hoping and praying for
a new job.  We did have some time on our hands so we donated that to go
and buy things for other kids through the church offerings.  We figured
our kids were little (two and one at the time) and really would not miss
having lots of presents under the tree.  Their grandparents would
certainly provide some and honestly we really were at peace about it.
Well, after we brought back the gifts to the church our pastor stopped
us and gave us an envelope.  We didn't ask for it, but our church gave
us some gift cards anyway to buy some things for our family ...  It is
difficult to accept help, even when we need it.  It is more difficult to
ask for help.  Having been there I am constantly reminded that I need to
be as generous as I can be and look for creative ways to help others
anonymously.  It was a humble Christmas that year, but we cried a lot
out of joy.  We were so thankful for a church that helped us out.

Rod

Cards are Starting to Move!

We have had several requests for "www.stealthservant.com" cards from friends and co-workers and now we have had several requests via e-mail at "stealthservant@gmail.com".  This is awesome!  In the future we may  have way for folks to make their own cards, but for now it is my pleasure to send them out through the mail.  Don't forget to tell us the your stories.  Thanks!

"Thoughtful" Biscuits and Gravy

A coworker of mine loves biscuits and gravy (like me).  On her birthday, I picked up some biscuits and gravy and left it on her desk when she came in along with a "StealthServant" card.  She knew it was me, but she went on to use the card for another story already posted here!

Anonymous

Free Pizza at Little Caesars...

...for whoever followed me into the Little Caesars on Scenic.  I hope that they enjoyed it.  Little Caesars is a great place to be a stealth servant.  The pizzas are only $5, so when I went to get some Crazy Bread this afternoon I paid for a pizza and left the card for the cashier to hand out to the next customer.  Hopefully they will be blessed by this very small act of kindness.

Anonymous in Springfield

Used "Stealth Servant" Card!

Yesterday while in line at Walmart buying a few necessities, I noticed the lady behind me only had two items in her cart, both being frozen, easy to fix food.  I discreetly handed the cashier the $5 bill I had in my hand along with a "stealth servant" card.  I asked her to apply the five dollars to the lady's tab and give her the card.  I realize that this is small, but it felt good and she sure looked like she could use something to brighten her day.

Lori - Springfield, MO

Gave a pregnant women a ride

Yesterday, after church, we ate lunch at Yen Ching in Ozark with Amy's parents.  As we left, heading south down the road that passes the entrance to the Tracker plant, we pass a woman walking north right at the Tracker entrance who is obviously pregnant, very far along,  I looked at Amy and said, "We have to give that woman a ride" and we kicked Brady out of his seat in to the back with the other boys.

We turned around the car and pulled up beside her (which I'm sure can seem creepy to someone out walking like that) and Amy tells her we want to give her a ride to wherever she's going.  She was very appreciative but told us thanks but no.  We banter back and forth about it a little bit and she's not going for the idea until we insist that she hop in and we'll run her wherever she's going.   

After she gets in, she says she's going to Papa Murphy's over in front of the Ozark PriceCutter -- her husband works there, and he has the car, and she needs the car to go somewhere.  We were shocked -- she had walked from those townhouses at the end of the Tracker road and was planning on walking all the way up to CC, then along the highway and across the 65 highway overpass to get to Papa Murphy's, and she was telling us "No" when offering her a ride.  Crazy!

But it gets better -- she said that she was hoping she'd go into labor while she was walking, and we were laughing with her, saying that last place she wants to go into labor is while walking alone down that road.  But the reason she wanted to go into labor was because she has a C-section scheduled for TODAY and she wanted to avoid the C-section if possible.  We were just amazed that she's out walking that far the day before a C-section, but more amazed that she didn't want to impose when we offered her a ride.

Anyway, we got her there and she was very appreciative, but we were just blown away by the whole scenario.

 

John V.  Ozark, MO

Paid for Lunch at Mr. Goodscents

I was able to buy lunch for the gentleman behind me in line at Mr. Goodscents today for lunch. Because we were far enough in front of him, we got to sit done and watch his reaction when he found out his lunch was paid for. It was fun!

Don't Forget Your Wife!

A wise friend of mine posted the first comment to this blog and ended it with "Don't forget your wife!"  That is great advice.  While this site is primarily focused on doing random nice things for others anonymously, we can't just leave it at that.  We should always be looking for chances to do nice things for the people that we care about the most, not randomly or anonymously!

Stories Wanted:
Also, I would love to start compiling stories that anyone has about nice stuff that they have done.  Please e-mail them to stealthservant@gmail.com and I will post them to the site.

Thanks for the support

Since launching this site after work yesterday, I have spoken to several folks about this and your response has been encouraging to me.  I have already done a small thing today; I paid for the person behind me at the McDonald's drive through this morning, turns out she only had coffee so it only cost me $1.27 to brighten her day (and the drive through attendant liked it too).

A couple of points:
1)  I don't want this site to be about me, I want it to be about everyone doing good things for other people.
2)  Eventually I would like to have a couple of lists, one with ideas for helping others and one listing things that have been done as a result of this site.
3)  I am thinking of having some nondescript cards printed that could be handed out or "left a the scene" to let them know that they have been "served" and hopefully inspire them to "pay it forward".

Have a great day!

Welcome - Let's do something nice for somebody else!

Welcome to my first blog.  I am hoping to accomplish a few goals with this thing.

1)  Demonstrate to my friends, family, co-workers, and others the power of doing nice things for people.
2)  Provide useful ideas, tips, and motivation to help others get into doing great things for others for no particular reason.
3)  Demonstrate the Love of Christ to those who will be affected by the things that are done by myself and others as we get better and better and doing these kind of things.
4)  Warning - this is selfish:  Motivate myself to continue to do nice things, big and small for others.  My thought process goes something like this....If my friends and family might be checking this blog, I will be more motivated to do something every day, like having a bunch of accountability partners.

Let's see what can be done together...