Act of Kindness Sparks Over a Decade of Paying It Forward

A New Hampshire family, inspired by an act of kindness 12 years ago, have paid it forward every holiday season since. In 2010, Krista and Jeff Butts were struggling. Krista was out of work and Jeff was working 80 hours a week with the Exeter Police Department to provide for their three young sons. Krista had saved up enough money to get haircuts for the boys and was overcome with emotion after learning that all of their haircuts were paid in full by a stranger.

The simple kindness from a stranger inspired the mom and her sons to perform their own acts of kindness that day — and every holiday season moving forward. That same day, Krista brought her sons to their local Walmart and bought three gift cards. She gave each son a card and instructed them to walk around the store together to find people who they thought could use them.

One of the recipients was a mom with two kids. Krista’s sons said they chose the woman because she reminded them of her. It was an “awesome parenting moment” she’d never forget. Each year since, the family has done random acts of kindness around the holidays for 25 days. Starting Dec. 1, the Butts family picks something nice to do for someone each day leading up to Christmas.

“It can be as simple as helping someone, holding a door, paying for a coffee,” Krista said. “We usually try to pay for at least one family’s meal, we reward public servants with food and treats, drop off decorated wreaths, Christmas decorations or meals to neighbors or strangers. We try hard to go places where people don’t know us and just enjoy the spontaneity of it all, because I think it means more to people when it’s a stranger doing something nice for you. I don’t know why that makes a difference, but I think, for people it does.”