Lately, I have tried to be mindful of commonplace moments with spiritual applications – recognizing the blessing or finding the meaning in the little things, day in and day out. It’s so easy to lapse into tunnel-vision and focus on all of my to-dos and scarcely notice the world around me.

Every morning when I drop off my little two at preschool, there are always one or two retiree volunteers from the church next door (the daycare is affiliated with that congregation) who open the doors and greet everyone. They know us and call us by name, and seeing them is a bright spot in our morning.

One lady, in particular, always says, “Have a grand day!” as I’m leaving. Her enthusiasm is contagious; it’s hard not to smile as I walk to my car, even if I’m not having such a grand morning. She spreads joy and kindness, and it reminds me often that God never fails to care about me, either.