“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)

You never know how one small gesture might impact a person’s day.

If someone is already having a good day, your kindness might make their day even better. For someone who’s feeling a bit down, your genuine smile and encouraging word might combat the negativity they are experiencing. And for someone in deep despair, your small act of kindness might be a lifeline offering the hope they need to keep going.

Consider these truths from scripture, along with ideas for small acts of kindness to make your world a little brighter:

“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”  Philippians 2:4 (NKJV)

  • Let someone who is in a hurry go ahead of you in line.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31 (NIV)

  • Leave a positive review for a small business.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)

  • Send a motivational text to a friend who is struggling.

“So encourage each other and build each other up…” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

  • Offer a genuine compliment to a stranger, or a specific affirmation to a friend or co-worker.

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

  • Buy coffee for the person behind you in line.

“Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life…” Proverbs 21:21 (ESV)

  • Say thank you to your spouse.

“Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.” Proverbs 25:25 (NIV)

  • Call a friend that you haven’t spoken to for a while.

“And let us not become weary in doing good …” Galatians 6:9

  • Offer to run an errand for your elderly neighbor.

“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones”. Proverbs 16:24 (NIV)

  • Send someone a handwritten note.

 

We have no idea what burdens other people are carrying. That’s obviously true for the strangers we encounter. But it’s also true for people we may know quite well, even members of our own family. Some people are really good at concealing their worries and concerns. That’s why small acts of kindness matter every single day, even and perhaps especially in the relationships we take for granted—when we may not think it’s necessary to go out of our way to be nice.

One more thought: Extending kindness to others also benefits your own well-being by making you feel happier, strengthening your connections to people, and increasing your sense of belonging and purpose.

Small acts of kindness are kind of a big deal! They can have a profound and lasting impact on the people around you. And they can also make your life better. That’s a win—win situation!