The Beauty of Small Yeses: Finding Grace in Everyday Moments

Maria Morera Johnson ponders the opportunities to say yes throughout the day, inviting Grace into little moments that might go unnoticed.

The Blessed Mother’s simple “yes” to the angel Gabriel changed the course of human history. Joseph’s fiat, too, was cooperating in God’s plan for him. We often reflect on their profound acts of obedience and faith. But have you ever thought about the small, everyday yeses in your own life? Those tiny, often unnoticed decisions can also open the door to God’s grace in powerful ways.

Parenthood is challenging in many ways, and each season of a family’s growth and development has its unique needs. The total self-giving of the newborn stage is a mere hint of the sacrifices that will follow. Motherhood and fatherhood ushers in a life-long pouring out of love that doesn’t end with the empty nest. At every step of the way we affirm that love.

Saying yes to the small things creates big ripples

I didn’t always recognize the importance of small yeses. When I was deep in the chaos and busy schedules of raising a family, my days were filled with tasks that felt more like obligations than opportunities to encounter grace. Before ride-sharing apps, there was Mom’s Minivan. Endless laundry and the challenge of getting dinner on the table sometimes turned into nights of drudgery. It’s easy to get lost in the monotony and miss the spiritual significance of these moments.

Our small yeses matter. They matter in how we care for our families, love our neighbors, and respond to the needs of strangers. They matter when we choose kindness over impatience, gratitude over grumbling, or prayer over distraction. These choices create ripples of grace that extend far beyond what we can see.

God’s Grace shapes us into faithful disciples 

Take a moment to think about your day. Where can you say yes? Maybe it’s listening with patience to your child’s long-winded story instead of rushing to finish a task. Maybe it’s smiling at the exhausted mom in line at school pick-up or offering up a quick prayer for her. Maybe it’s inviting God into your own overwhelm, asking Him to transform your stress into an offering of love.

The beauty of these small yeses is that they don’t require perfection, just willingness. God takes our little efforts and magnifies them, just as He multiplied the loaves and fishes. In saying yes, we’re not just helping others; we’re allowing God to shape us into more loving, patient, and faithful disciples.

So today, let’s embrace the small yeses. Let’s find grace in the carpool lane, in the grocery store aisle, and in the countless opportunities to say, “Here I am, Lord.” Because when we do, we’re not just living our lives — we’re letting God’s grace flow through us, one small yes at a time.