It’s easy to see the big ways God works in our lives: the plane that lands safely or a loved one recovering from an illness or getting through surgery. We might not always catch the seemingly little ways God works in our lives. But when we do, it’s amazing.

Thanks to winning lift tickets and ski rentals for four, my husband and three of my children spent a day before all the closings and quarantines on the slopes at a ski resort. It was the last week of the season, and they had the place mostly to themselves.

Let me tell you why this was a little wink from God. The school my kids used to attend had an annual ski day. It was a day my husband and children always enjoyed. We don’t have anyone at that school anymore, and it was one thing they missed.

I looked into ski club at their current schools, but after discovering the cost times three children, we decided it wasn’t the best use of our money. Add to that our February birthday child who wanted to go skiing for her birthday but schedules just didn’t work.

So when I heard I was the winner, I couldn’t help but thank God. It’s a little thing; I know. But the little things remind us how intimately God is involved in our lives. He’s like that father who just can’t help but throw a little extra blessing our way.

Too often we miss those little gifts. We’re frustrated about being cooped up at home for weeks instead of being grateful that during that time God’s keeping us healthy. We mumble about not being able to go out to eat at a restaurant, instead of thanking God for the quiet family dinners at home. We chalk things up to good luck or skill or the wise people around us instead of crediting God.

Perhaps that’s why the apostle Paul tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). There’s just so much we don’t see and comprehend. So we give thanks whatever happens, knowing God will somehow, someway work it for good.

And on the rare occasions when we do catch a glimpse of God at work in our lives, we, like Mary after giving birth to baby Jesus (Luke 2:19), can ponder these things and treasure them in our hearts.