IT'S THE SMALL THINGS There are some dates we remember much more frequently and fondly than others. The likes of birthdays, anniversaries, momentous occasions, firsts, milestones, you name it. There are also instances when I catch myself thinking about what I was doing at this time, exactly a year ago. I find delight in relishing in memories I have made with loved ones, and celebrating tiny moments that take up a huge space in my heart. It was then when I realized that some dates become more special than others with sheer coincidence. Just this month, without my noticing, I have come to realize that October the first has become one of those dates. In the year 2020, I got married civilly on October first. And although it was the farthest from what we had originally planned and imagined; it was a most intimate affair celebrated with those who mattered most to us. In a most unpredictable year when everything seemed to have gone wayward, it was most definitely a day that I will forever remember. I remember I had originally chosen this date because it was the feast day of Saint Therese who I pray to everyday, so when we were able to push through regardless of the circumstances, I knew the heavens played a major role, and that my prayers had brought me there. But in choosing that date, I did not remember that it had also been a life changing day for me six years back. In 2014, my mother got her mastectomy on October first. It was a most successful operation that with God’s grace declared her cancer free. It was her new birthday of sorts – one that gave her another chance at life, with a new and more meaningful perspective on how to live it. It was actually only in a conversation I had with my mom last week that I recalled this, and with everything that has transpired in my life thus far, October first to me is now a day that carries so much more significance. A day that does not only symbolize hope, but one that will forever remind me of the instrumental role a strengthened faith and surrendering to God has played in my life. It has been a date that has seen my most joyous of moments, but has also been one clouded with fear and anxiety. October first has seen me on extreme spectrums of emotions, but at the end, has gifted me with so much. Whether it is sheer coincidence, or again one that has been orchestrated in the heavens, 1-0-0-1, will always hold meaning in my heart, and in my life. A reminder forever that all works out in God’s good time, and that He never lets his warriors down. Some dates just pass us by, while others hold so much meaning. Every single day has 24 hours, and some just happen to be more special than others. Whatever special dates you hold in your life, may you never forget the joy, and the meaning it bestows on you. Bring these with you as you live the rest – never underestimate the power of these memories and sometimes seemingly small moments in pulling you through some of the toughest hours. God gifted them to you for a reason – cherish them, treasure them, and hold them close, now, and forever!