There is something about the holidays that almost makes you expect such acts of kindness, because people are simply in the mood for giving.
But there is a difference between the kind of giving that the woman who bought my drink showed, and the type of giving that the person who bought the first drink showed.
The woman ahead of me was prepared to buy her own drink. But when she discovered that the car ahead of her had paid for her drink, she made the impulse decision to pay for my drink. So her decision was based on an opportunity presenting itself to her.
The person who bought the first drink, however, didn't wait for an opportunity to present itself. That person created an opportunity.
Both acts were equally kind and equally generous. But the first act was intentional.
I'm reading John Maxwell's book "Intentional Living" right now, and he points out this difference. He says that we applaud one another for "random acts of kindness," but random acts rely on emotions and circumstances. We give when we feel like it, when someone plays on our emotions, or when we are face to face with a need. We can choose, however, to be intentionally kind, to look for and create opportunities to be generous and loving.
If you are like me, you are sometimes intentional but more often emotional. My prayer is that we --that is, me -- would be more intentional with our love and generosity this Christmas, not waiting for someone to earn our love or gifts, not waiting on someone to step in front of our path with their hand outstretched, but deciding in advance to live and love and look for opportunities to do so.
Interested in living more intentionally? Be part of John Maxwell's 7-day experiment toward intentional living. It's completely free and you can do it at your own pace. It might be just what you are looking for to start the New Year off right! http://intentionalliving.johnmaxwell.com/7-day-experiment
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