30 ways to go the extra mile
Going the extra mile is tough because it means stretching further after you’ve already stretched. It means giving more even after you’ve already given. The first part is like, “Oh, this is my Christian duty.” But the second part, the “above and beyond” part, is purely out of the kindness of your heart.
Maybe it’s just me, but the kindness of my heart is pretty shallow, like kiddie pool shallow. I have to get some super creative inspiration to want to do it. Hopefully, this post will give you some of that…
How to go the extra mile and show you really care
The formula is simple:
- Do something nice.
- Do something else on top of that niceness that makes it super, duper special.
So the formula for coming up with ideas is simple too. First, ask yourself how you’re nice to others. Once you’ve answered that, ask yourself how you could make what you already do even more special.
Alternatively, you could ask God these questions. He’s pretty good with this too.
Anyway, here are some examples I’ve come up with:
1. When everyone else is writing “Happy birthday” on a friend’s Facebook wall, send your friend a private message instead… perhaps with a Scripture verse too.
2. When you drop someone off after a ride in your car, get out and walk them to wherever they’re headed.
3. When you visit a friend’s house for dinner, followup with a hand-written Thank You note.
4. When you give someone a gift, wrap it – neatly – in wrapping paper instead of just plopping it in one of those gift bags.
5. When you send someone a greeting card, make it yourself and write your own personal message inside.
6. When you give someone a book, write a note on the inside cover.
7. When you give someone a picture, share on the back why you think it’s special.
8. When you’re out with friends at a restaurant, surprise everyone by buying them dessert.
9. When someone asks you for a loan, give them the money instead.
10. When someone asks you to pray for them during the week, pray with them right then too.
11. When friends offer to pay you to help them (like fix their car or watch their kids), help them but do it for free.
12. When people try to steal your work or credit for your work, make it all freely available for them to take and use however they want.
13. When you talk with a friend about a topic you know nothing about, research it afterward and then email what you learn to your friend.
14. When you meet new people, don’t just remember their names – remember their kids’ names too (write them down if you need to).
15. When you read a book or article you especially enjoy, send the author a personal email.
16. When you recommend friends on Twitter (like #followfriday), do it one at a time and explain a little about why you’re recommending each person.
17. When you volunteer for a project at your local church, recruit someone else for the project too, someone who’s not already involved.
18. When you schedule a time to meet, show up early to make sure everything is set up and ready to go for whatever you’re doing.
19. When you’re trying to start a conversation with a stranger, ask, “What do you do for fun?” instead of just, “What do you do?”
20. When you’re taking your garbage cans to the street for pickup, take out your neighbor’s while you’re at it.
21. When everyone’s funneling through a busy doorway, hold it open for the whole line of people.
22. When you leave a tip, leave a chocolate bar on top.
23. When you’re at the store, pick up a small plant to bring to work and put it somewhere public for everyone to enjoy.
24. When you offer your friend next to you a piece of gum, tell your friend to keep passing the pack down the row of seats for anyone who wants some.
25. When you’re out on the town taking pictures, offer to take strangers’ pictures and then email the pictures to them.
26. When you’re arranging a meal for your friends at your place, invite someone you’ve never had over.
27. When you’re grocery shopping for your family and find a deal that requires you to buy extra, buy it but give the extra to your neighbor.
28. When you’re recommending a friend to another friend, offer to set up lunch between the three of you… or even just the two of them.
29. When you’ve invited someone to a church service, talk with them afterward about everything that happened – don’t just leave them hanging.
30. When you take your kids to the park, climb up in the jungle gym with them.
Being nice doesn’t count as going the extra mile. It just counts as being nice. Going the extra miles means being nice and then doing something extra on top of it.
“And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies…” -Matthew 5:41-44
Serving Suggestions:
(1) Try some… no, to start with, try just one of these. Pick one, and do it today, like right now.
(2) What are some of your favorite examples of ways to go the extra mile? What do you like to do? Share in the comments.