What brings a tear of joy to your eye?

Sometimes joy just sneaks in, quiet and unexpected. And before I know it, a tear is sliding down my cheek. It’s not always loud or dramatic. Often, it’s in the small, simple moments that feel too big to hold inside.

A tear of joy might come from watching my daughter’s eyes light up at a little victory, or seeing someone I care about reach a dream they’ve worked so hard for. One of the moments that brought me this kind of joy was when my daughter started school for the very first time. I had been homeschooling her through kindergarten, and suddenly, it was her first day in a real school — first grade. She stepped into the hallway without a hint of fear, bubbling with excitement. I was beaming with pride, waving goodbye, telling her to have a wonderful day, while quietly fighting back my own tears. But the moment I turned and caught my husband’s gaze, and saw his tears as well, all of ours spilled over. Happy tears. Worried tears. But mostly, the proudest tears I’ve ever felt.

I’ve learned these tears aren’t just about happiness. They are about the ties that bind — to others, to the world around me, and to my own heart. They show me that even the simplest moments can hold extraordinary meaning.

Writing brings this joy too. When my words reach someone else, even just a little, and they feel understood, I feel that same swell in my chest — that sparkling tear of joy.

Life isn’t perfect. But it’s full of tiny miracles if we notice them. And when we let ourselves feel them, even for a moment, our hearts can’t help but overflow.

Sometimes, the smallest moments leave the most lasting marks on our hearts. A single glance, a single smile, or a single brave step can hold all the love, hope, and pride in the world. And sometimes, all we need to do is let ourselves feel it.