A Small Victory: Stepping Up and Settling In

Part of the “Seasons of Home”series

There’s something quietly empowering about doing a task you’ve put off for a while. The kind of thing that doesn’t seem monumental on the outside… but on the inside, it feels like progress.

This week, I put together a privacy screen I had ordered weeks ago. It wasn’t a big project. Just something I kept walking past, leaning against the wall, waiting for the “right time.” But the other day, with no big plan, I just did it. I stepped up, assembled it, and placed it where I had imagined.

It looked lovely once it was up… but more than that, it felt like something shifted. A tiny act of anchoring. Of saying, “I’m here. I belong here.”

Later that evening, in the quiet stillness of early evening, my phone rang. It was a woman I had called earlier to ask about walking groups in the area, and she returned the call just as I was settling in. We spoke for quite some time… about the area, healthcare, and moving here. It was such an unexpected delight. She was warm, welcoming, and encouraging. She even said, “You won’t have any trouble meeting people.”

I smiled after she hung up, almost in disbelief. It felt like a little note from the universe. Or maybe something more.

Sometimes I believe God sends small confirmations. Little soul boosters just when we need them most… not in loud ways, but subtle splashes of grace. That phone call reminded me of something I’ve been slowly learning over the years: growth often happens quietly.

Long ago, the first time I lived on my own, it felt like standing in a room that echoed with both possibility and loneliness. I was much older than most people are when they first live alone, but it was right on time for me. I learned so much in those first few months… about resilience, grace, and trusting that I wasn’t walking alone, even when I felt unsure.

This new chapter, years later, echoes that same quiet courage. I’m not the same person I was back then. The road from there to here has been winding and rich with learning. But the thread is the same: stepping up, quietly, and growing into the life God is shaping with me.

This little privacy screen, this kind phone call, this inner unfolding… all of it felt like a reminder: you’re doing okay.

Have you had one of these quiet moments recently, a small victory or a subtle shift? Maybe something that no one else would notice, but you felt it deep in your bones?

I’d love to hear about it… feel free to share in the comments, or simply whisper it to yourself in gratitude. These small moments are part of the season too.

With love,