Start the day with a smile

It was a busy morning of feeding everyone breakfast, packing lunches, and getting children off to school.

The temperature had dropped overnight, and I was wondering what the teachers would think of the child I had sent to school in shorts. I assume that teachers know that middle school boys don’t want to wear pants unless there’s snow on the ground—and, even then, only after a healthy discussion.

I packed my own bags for the day, said goodbye to our pet birds, locked the door, and hurried to the car. My mind was on the meetings and the projects and the conversations that awaited me, and the drive to the office was just a step along the day.

I groaned as I saw the frost on my car.

And then I saw the smile.

One of my family members had stopped and scratched a happy face into the frost.

That simple gesture shifted my perspective. I always sigh as I reach for the scraper to clear the windshield, but this time I couldn’t stop smiling, wondering whether my husband had paused or one of our sons.

It probably took less than a minute for them to make the face, but there it was. I loved that someone would pause in the crazy rush of an ordinary day to leave me a sweet little sign of joy.

Our days rush past in a whirlwind of activity. But so often it’s the little moments that shape our day. Those small, thoughtful gestures can have such an impact on our lives.

That night I asked my primary suspect, our 12-year-old, and he confirmed that he had made the face. He stopped in our driveway on his walk to the bus stop. His hand got so cold from writing in the frost, but he left his mark and went on his way.

As I started my day, I scraped the face away, and it would have melted soon enough. But the smile stayed with me throughout the day.

I hope you find something to make you smile today, too.

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