Small things are saving me this winter. Just like they did last February when I wrote about how small acts of mothering and fathering add up to create a big thing—a caregiver’s sacrificial life.

The small things saving me this year are more mundane, but no less crucial, as the pandemic has not allowed life to return to what the rest of the world hoped it would be by now. Once the pandemic does wane, the lives of many parents raising kids with disabilities and special needs will still be marked by health concerns, sacrificial caregiving, and constant stress. We will still need to identify the small things that spark gratitude and help us persevere.

I created such a list to remind myself that God is at work in the small things of my life. Written in no particular order, it’s obvious that the small things are saving me, and that many of them are very small indeed.

1. My Yeti thermos. I like my hot beverages really hot. My Yeti keeps my tea or coffee hot for a really, really long time. That means I can sip whatever’s in the thermos for an hour or more, something I also love.
2. Libraries. Reading is my favorite leisure time activity, and libraries allow me to read in whatever format I want—hardcover, Kindle, or audio—without spending a penny. I also check out books and movies to share with our multigenerational family and take my 3-year-old granddaughter to library story time every week, also for free.
3. Our Instant Pot. My daughter and I purchased one on Black Friday. I still have a lot to learn about it, but already enjoy throwing ingredients in the pot an hour before supper and serving up soup that tastes like it’s been simmering all day.

To read the rest of Small Things Are Saving Me, visit Key Ministry’s blog for special needs parents.