One of my most memorable experiences with kindness happened years ago while I was waiting for a flight in Atlanta. I was on my way back to Afghanistan, and the plane had been delayed. The airline provided vouchers for us to grab dinner while we waited. I didn’t feel like eating at the food court, so I found one of the quieter sit-down restaurants inside the airport. When I asked for the bill, the server informed me that it had already been paid for. I remember being confused and completely taken aback. I never knew who had done this simple act of kindness that I have never forgotten. However, when looking back on moments like that, I have learned something profound: kindness shouldn’t just be random acts that happen on an infrequent basis, but should be a part of our makeup that we live out on a daily basis.
Moving Beyond Random Acts
We often hear about how random acts of kindness will brighten someone’s day. But what if we began practicing intentional kindness, choosing, every day, to look for opportunities to care, encourage, and connect?
Intentional kindness is about living with an open heart and an open mind. It’s deciding that no matter how busy or tired we are, we will make space for grace. It’s not about waiting for the perfect moment; it’s about creating it.
As Colossians 3:12 reminds us:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
When we choose kindness intentionally, we wear it like clothing, a visible, practical, and integral part of who we are.
The Ripple Effect of Intentional Kindness
The beauty of that meal in the Atlanta airport wasn’t just in the gesture, it was in how it made me feel seen and valued, even by a stranger. Intentional acts of kindness have that ripple effect.
They remind us that goodness and grace still exist. They invite others to pay it forward. And often, they meet people right where they are, in moments when encouragement is needed most.
In healthcare, caregiving, or even daily life, we can make kindness part of our routine, not just something that “happens,” but something we build into our way of being.
Ways to Practice Intentional Kindness
Here are a few simple ways to bring more intentional kindness into your day:
- Plan kindness into your week. Write it into your planner, “send a thank-you note,” “call someone who’s struggling,” or “bring coffee for a coworker.”
- Be present. Sometimes the kindest thing we can offer is our attention. Listen fully, without distraction.
- Look for invisible needs. The person who seems “fine” may be carrying the heaviest load. A kind word can make all the difference.
- Give without expecting. Genuine kindness doesn’t seek recognition; it seeks restoration.
- Pray for opportunities. Ask God to show you who needs a touch of compassion today.
Each small act that we take becomes a way of intentionally living out love.
The Heart of It All
Intentional kindness is a quiet discipline that transforms not only others, but also us. That meal in the Atlanta airport didn’t just fill my stomach; it filled my heart. It reminded me that unseen kindness has eternal value the kind that lingers long after the moment has passed. Kindness doesn’t even need to be about grand gestures or a physical act such as paying for someone’s meal but can be as simple as smiling, saying hello and asking someone how they are doing.
Today, don’t wait for kindness to happen. Choose it. Practice it. Be it. You never know whose life might be changed by your decision to care on purpose.