Warm and Fuzzies: Books About Kindness

When I was in seventh grade student council, we made these yarn "warm and fuzzies" and sang the following song: 

I will give you warm & gentle fuzzies 
for I love you as you are. 
If you want more warm & gentle fuzzies 
open up your heart 

New made friends, 
like new made wine, 
age and mello 
with the time.

As we sang, we pulled a piece of yarn and gave it to the person of our choice and told them something important, nice, thoughtful to them so that they could receive a physical representation of a "warm and fuzzy" feeling. Pretty cool, right?

I can't give you each a piece of yarn, but I can give you important, nice, and kind words; pages and pages of them found in each of these books. These author's words have become like good friends and I hope they will open your heart too!

How To Pick Up A Stripper: And Other Acts of Kindness

Todd and Erin Stevens

Thomas Nelson Publishers 

Summary: 

The starting and ending points for all outreach have to be love. The most effective way to reach people for Jesus is through kindness outreach--showing God's love in practical ways. This type of outreach is what Jesus modeled, is culturally relevant, and values people. The goal should be to invite people to take the next step from where they are.

Friendship Community Church, led by Pastor Todd Stevens, has experienced tremendous growth through acts of kindness. The church's most radical kindness project is Nashville Strip Church, founded by Erin Stevens. Erin's life changed when God told her to "go feed the strippers." With home-cooked meals and gift bags, Erin shows dancers that God loves them. "How to Pick Up a Stripper and Other Acts of Kindness" includes the story of a dancer who has come to know Christ, left the strip club industry through Erin's ministry, and is now serving with Erin to reach other strippers.

From feeding the homeless, to Easter egg hunts for special needs children, to ministering in a strip club, "How to Pick Up a Stripper and Other Acts of Kindness" provides exciting ideas for showing God's love in practical ways. 

 

More or Less: Choosing A Lifestyle of Excessive Generosity

Jeff Shinabarger

David C. Cook

Summary: 

It all started with one idea: What would happen if we created a culture in which we gave away whatever was more than enough for us? How would our habits change if we shed the excess of money, clutter, and food in our lives? In More or Less, readers will learn how to draw a line of “enough” in their consumer choices, how to see generosity as a chance to experience freedom in a greedy world, and how to make small changes now that will help others forever. As Shinabarger reminds them, defining “enough” is more than a responsibility—it is an opportunity to

give hope.

 

Moment Maker

Carlos Whittaker 

Zondervan

Summary: 

Life is happening all around you. What you get out of it depends on how engaged and deliberate you are in every moment. In Moment Maker Carlos Whittaker, renowned blogger, musician and worship leader, shares how he has learned to make each moment count and how those moments add up to a life rich with meaning, deeply satisfying and full of purpose.