• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

Scattering love: 10 sneaky ways to practice selfless gestures of kindness

September 28, 2020
By Suzanna Molino Singleton
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Snippets of Faith

On a recent 9-girlfriend getaway to Cape May on the Jersey Shore, our friend Barbie brought two large plastic bags packed with God’s perfectly formed seashells she had collected on her annual treks to Sanibel Island, Florida (considered the best shelling spot in North America).

Tiny perfect pastel coquinas, conchs, whelks, scallops, angel wings, and clamshells … perfectly intact. God is such a talented designer.

When normally most of us walk along the beach to collect seashells to take home, Barbie brings seashells to the beach! Since our Maryland and Jersey shorelines generally do not spit out such unique and gorgeous seashells such as the ones in Sanibel, she enjoys tossing them around on other beaches so beach-goers can be delighted as they discover these perfect little treasures.

Who does that?? Kind-hearted Barbie does that.

True giving is not being around to benefit from the reaction of a recipient or receiving kudos and pats on the back. True generosity is presenting your gift, then walking away, knowing you’ll be eventually providing a little thrill to someone.

Matthew 6:3-4 tells us: “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

Basically, let’s not do kind things only for publicity.

Following this wonderful example of Barbie as we fulfill acts of kindness to please God, what other selfless gestures could we practice unseen on friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, yes even strangers?

  • Could we show up unnoticed to write in chalk HAPPY BIRTHDAY! on a friend’s sidewalk or driveway?
  • Could we mail a ‘just because’ gift we bought because it reminded us of someone special when we saw it?
  • Could we accidentally drop a coin on the floor of a store and leave it there for someone to find?
  • Could we order and have delivered a fun something: cookies, basket of healing, chocolates, fruit, flowers, gelato, a get-well package, even a sympathy gift?
  • Could we slip a few quarters in the parking meter before we pull away so it is paid for the next person who parks?
  • Could we hand out the car window a pre-assembled lunch bag containing a few toiletries, snacks, tissue, water bottle, and a $5 dollar bill to a homeless person on the corner?
  • Could we tuck a love note in our spouse’s suitcase before a business trip or in our child’s lunchbox?
  • Could we leave a bottle of wine at the front door of a distraught friend?
  • Could we donate food items in a collection box at a local store to help feed the hungry?
  • Could we drop in a hefty tip in the jar for the human who served us a hot coffee, chilly snowball, or a delicious deli sandwich?

They say giving feels better than receiving. I’m a believer.

To all the BARBIEs out there on the planet who genuinely open their golden hearts to bring joy to strangers, who give back ten-fold, who pay it forward to the next person, who commit acts of kindness just because, who scatter love … may you always find the most perfectly formed seashells as you walk along. God placed them there for you.

Copyright © 2020 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Suzanna Molino Singleton

Suzanna Molino Singleton is a native Baltimorean and parishioner of St. Leo the Great Church in Little Italy. A former staff correspondent for the Catholic Review, she launched her "Snippets of Faith" blog for the Catholic Review in June 2018. Suzanna is the creator of a weekly e-column, SNIPPETS Inspiration (since 2006), and the author of eight books, including Italians in Baltimore; Baltimore's Little Italy: Heritage and History of The Neighborhood; and The Italian Immigrants' Daughter. Email Suzanna at suzannamolino@promotioncenterforlittleitaly.org.

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Farewell and thank you

In June, let your garden honor the hearts of Jesus and Mary

Question Corner: Must I make my confession at the altar, as my pastor asks?

The Beauty of Mass in the Gym

Exquisite pizza, the school year winding down, and a shopping day (7 Quick Takes)

| Recent Local News |

‘God’s Scribe’: Father Breighner retires popular column after more than 50 years

Bishop Victor Galeone, former Archdiocese of Baltimore priest and bishop of St. Augustine, dies at 87

Assault outside Planned Parenthood office leaves pregnancy center employees shaken

RADIO INTERVIEW: The Prosperity Gospel

CEO, authors, NFL coach take part in Catholic college commencements

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Nevada’s Catholic governor who campaigned as ‘pro-life’ signs some abortion protections into law
  • Pope names Cardinal Farrell next head of Vatican City high court
  • Senate approves House-passed debt ceiling deal, avoiding default
  • Profit-at-all-costs is not a good business model, pope says
  • Farewell and thank you
  • ‘God’s Scribe’: Father Breighner retires popular column after more than 50 years
  • Expertos esperan avances en salud, discapacidad y ministerio hispano en la reunión de junio de los obispos de EE.UU.
  • Experts hope for progress on health care, disability ministry and Hispanic Catholics at U.S. bishops’ June meeting
  • Movie Review: ‘Padre Pio’

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED