Written By Corine Gatti-Santillo

I lay my head at one end of the sofa after a long day. My toddler comes over and motions me over. No problem, I can handle that, but I’m thinking a diaper needs to be changed or Elmo is lost again.

Not this time.

She instructs me to put my head down on her lap and pats my head. “It’s okay, shhh…”

Later that week she checks in and asks: “Are you okay?” and “Do you need water?”

Again, amazement settles in.

How did she know I felt like a piece of burnt toast? Astounded, I felt puzzled and comforted. When it’s believed there’s nothing to make your day — God sends a toddler for support. I like to think I can find de-stressing tools by watching television, listening to music or in a hunk of cake.

But there’s nothing more satisfying than an unforeseen blessing of love or pats on the head. Jesus loved the children as He knew their hearts were big, bursting with love and faith. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone, who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Looking for outside resources to ease a bad day or even a not-so-bad day is routine, especially in survival mode. The hidden gems of hope and relief can be from those living under the same roof. It’s easy to overlook when they happen. It can be a “Good Morning” from a neighbor or a spouse thanking you for a great meal with a hug. These all add up to God’s little blessings to help when life is blah or hectic.

Start finding the blessings in the little events that happen today. You might be surprised that they’re all around you. My little one telling me I’m silly is a blessing. Waking up in the morning to finish a strong cup of coffee and uninterrupted prayer time is divine. My yellow-box tail lab licking me to get up in the morning is a messy blessing. This list can go on. You get where I’m going here.

Take a step back and look to see if there’s been little nudges byGod during the day. They might surprise you, whether from a toddler or sloppy kisses from a dog. God works in our lives every day with wonders along the way.