The Sparkle of Gratitude: Finding Joy in Small Victories

Gratitude doesn’t erase pain, but it reframes the day so light can find a way in. Small victories become signposts that point us back to God’s steady kindness.

Last week, two people I know shared beautiful news: they no longer need their walkers to get around. One is a repeat client of my home and pet care business. The other just had back surgery. Both were ecstatic—and I understood why. Healing is often a mosaic of tiny tiles, and some days a single tile shines bright enough to change the whole picture.

5 tiny things I thanked God for this week

1. A steadier step

   • Watching two friends put their walkers aside reminded me that progress can be quiet for a long time, then suddenly visible. Thank You for muscles relearning, nerves rewiring, and courage returning one hallway at a time.

2. A warm mug and a pain lull

   • The ache didn’t vanish, but there was a soft hour where it dimmed. Thank You for tea that stayed hot and the grace of a gentler afternoon.

3. A clear word where fog usually sits

   • The sentence came without stutter or search. Thank You for the little mercy of clarity when the brain is tired.

4. A text that said “thinking of you”

   • No fixes. No advice. Just presence. Thank You for love that stays without needing to be loud.

5. Twenty good minutes

   • Enough energy to fold towels and open a window. Thank You for ordinary strength that feels like a miracle on the right day.

Gratitude as a spiritual discipline

Gratitude is not denial. It is discipleship. It trains the eyes to find God’s nearness in common hours. It turns survival into worship. Over time, it shapes suffering into purpose and peace—like a lens that slowly brings what matters into focus. We practice not to earn favor, but to recognize it.

Lord, teach us to number small mercies so we do not miss Your great faithfulness.

💬 List one small victory from your week in the comments.