As my husband will tell you, I have a soft spot for babies and small children. Wherever we go, I can’t help but notice them. And if I’m close enough, I’ll smile, wave, maybe even make a silly face. What joy!This past Saturday, I was at breakfast with old friends, catching up over eggs benedict and omelets. Our conversation had taken a tender turn—we were sharing some of the painful experiences we’d walked through in the past year. And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her: a tiny girl at the next table, grinning at us with pure delight. She was halfway through a pancake far too big for her, with jam smudges across her cheeks—and she didn’t mind one bit. Instead, she turned toward us with a beaming smile that felt like sunshine. In that moment, her joy lifted the weight we were feeling. A simple, unexpected reminder: small joys are never far, even in the midst of heartache and challenges.
Her smile also reminded me of something deeper—the power of noticing each otherwith delight. Years ago, on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Toni Morrison put words to this beautifully in a now-famous interview.Toni spoke about how when we see our loved ones, the most important question isn’t, Did they complete the task? but Does your face light up when they walk in the room? That moment of visible delight matters—not just for children, but for all of us. Maybe that’s why I love watching little ones. Their faces light up when they see me—and for that brief moment, I feel special, seen… like I matter.
As we grow older, many of us learn to hide that delight. It can feel too tender, too exposed. But when we choose to unlearn that—and let our joy show—we strengthen our relational resilience. We create small, sacred bridges of connection. I’ve been practicing this noticing others for a few years now: greeting people, especially those I don’t see often, with a face full of warmth and joy. It’s such a simple thing, and yet it never fails to open my heart—and theirs, too.
So I leave you with this gentle question: Whose face will you light up for today?
Meri and the Dovetail Team