Often in our busy lives, we sometimes miss the small things; little treasures here and there. It can be a kind word, a smile or a quarter on the ground. It can be the liquid trill of a gorgeous red cardinal singing to his lady love. Or it can be that last half of an English muffin, crisp and warm, with a melting smear of butter.

Little things add up to big things, too. The Scots have a lovely saying about this: “many a mickle makes a muckle.” Translated, that means many little things add up to a lot of things. It can be money, or love, or hope, or an unexpected gift. It can be a compliment given when you feel especially down on yourself. Or it could just be the sun breaking through gray clouds. All and all, these little treasures pile up.

I have on my desk a small rock painted pink by my oldest granddaughter, Ava. She was nearly five at the time, and on that pink rock she painted a blue heart and a yellow heart. Each heart had a dot of the other’s color; the blue heart had a yellow center, and the yellow heart had a blue center. It is my best and favorite paperweight, and I will treasure it always.

Words of encouragement, love and hope can become lights in the darkness. We find ourselves clinging to the magic of these words when we are facing hard or bad times. Small things, perhaps, but precious small things.

Look for them and you will find them.