The Promise of Small Things: Snowdrops, Gratitude and Hope

Our City Centre Minister, Judith Marshall, shares a few words on snowdrops, gratitude and hope…

This winter has felt long.  It has been my first year working and living in a city and whilst there are so many benefits to that, for me personally, January and February have been long, grey months. So, it is a joy to see small bursts of colour in gardens and parks. Bright white Snowdrops bursting through sodden earth and tiny green buds appearing on trees and bushes. There have even been occasional sightings of a round, hazy, yellowish thing in the sky!

Spring is finally here. The promise of longer, warmer, lighter days, with hopefully more than the occasional glimpse of the sun.

I’ve been drawn to snowdrops more than ever this year. From my study window I can see a patch of them and I watch their dainty heads dance in the wind. I’ve found myself looking out for glimpses of them when I’m out and about. They are so fragile looking yet are remarkably hardy. Often called the ‘flower of hope’, snowdrops have the ability to bloom in the harshest conditions. They are a small but powerful reminder of resilience and renewal and the promise of what’s to come.

I’ve always found comfort and hope in the ‘small’. The snowdrop being one such thing, another example is the acorn. Acorns are again a symbol of hope, strength and endurance. I find it amazing that that small seed, with time, develops into a strong, mighty, oak tree.

Such things give me hope that when I’m feeling small, deep within me, like a snowdrop bulb or acorn submerged in the dark earth, there is the potential of an inner hidden strength which can emerge and overcome challenges. It is a reminder that growth can happen even in the most unlikely conditions and that beauty can emerge from hardship.

This year for Lent, I decided that rather than trying (and probably failing) to give something up like chocolate or sweets, I would notice and record on my socials the ‘small’ joys each day, inspired by Nadia Bolz-Weber’s #40DaysofGoodSh*t. It has been helpful to practice the habit-forming discipline of noticing something good, no matter how small.

As a Deacon and a member of the Methodist Diaconal Order, a religious order, I have the discipline of a Rule of Life, which includes The Examen – a technique of prayerful reflection at the end of the day.  Part of this prayer is giving thanks – lingering on moments and events I have enjoyed that day and saying ‘thank you’.  And whether you are of faith or none, it is proven that practising gratitude is beneficial to wellbeing. Research shows that it improves mental health and enhances physical health, it can strengthen relationships and increase resilience, boosting happiness and life satisfaction.

In these moments of reflection on things that bring a smile to our faces and hearts, we are reminded that even the smallest gestures or sights can spark hope and gratitude. As the days lengthen and the natural world awakens, we can carry forward the lessons of resilience and joy found in nature’s quiet wonders.

So, let’s make it a habit to seek out and celebrate the ‘small’ joys each day, allowing them to nurture our spirits and guide us through whatever challenges may lie ahead.