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Every Little Thing by April Jeppson

The weather has been unseasonably warm this week, and I am loving it. Seeing people shed their bulky winter coats and venture outside for walks gives me life. I even heard a bird chirping the other day. A bird. In February. I know full well that winter isn’t over — this is Minnesota, after all — but these little glimmers of warmth remind me of what’s coming. Sunshine, longer days, the smell of dirt thawing in the air.

I think life works the same way. We all have good days and bad days, and sometimes, the hard ones start to take their toll. No matter how much we try to push through, life has a way of piling things up — a stressful project at work, a long to-do list, a seemingly endless winter (both literal and figurative). But I also believe that God gives us little glimmers, these tiny moments that whisper, “Hang in there.” It won’t always be this way.

This week, my glimmers came in all shapes and sizes. I finally got to meet my co-worker’s newborn twins — two perfect little humans with tiny fingers and sleepy expressions. Seeing them, and talking with their mom, brightened my morning. Then, a committee member stopped by my office and didn’t just talk about helping — he actually lightened my load. That’s a rare and beautiful thing. And let’s not forget the power of sharing a funny meme, a surprise muffin on my desk from the new café in town or an unexpected text from a friend. All seemingly small things, yet together, they make the hard days feel a little lighter.

Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” I think about that often. We don’t always have control over the season we’re in — whether that’s a long Minnesota winter or a particularly challenging chapter in life. But what we can do is recognize the glimmers when they come and do our best to be that glimmer for someone else.

Maybe it’s a warm smile to a stranger, a kind word to a stressed-out co-worker or simply listening when someone needs to vent. Maybe it’s bringing someone a treat (seriously, that one works every time). We may not always be able to change someone’s circumstances, but we can remind them that they’re not alone.

So thank you, sunshine, for the reminder that winter won’t last forever. Thank you to all the people who, knowingly or unknowingly, have brightened my week. And if you find yourself in a tough season, just know — your spring is coming. Hold onto the glimmers.

Albert Lean April Jeppson is a wife, mom, coach and encourager of dreams. Her column appears every Saturday.