The other day I was cleaning out my desk, and I came across a bunch of old folders. Most of them were pretty boring—tax stuff, my acceptance letter from college, notes from classes I took years ago.

But then I came across a bright green folder so full of stuff it almost fell apart when
opened it, and my face lit up. It was my Smile File.

What is a Smile File?

Before I decided to attend The Company’s in-person writing apprenticeship, I got a degree in early childhood education. And right before I started student teaching, I watched a YouTube video from a fellow education major, who said when she was having a bad day she would open up her Smile File: a little folder where she kept pictures the kids drew for her or thank you notes from the parents.

I’m a bit of a hoarder at heart and a sucker for cute rhymes, so I decided to start one too. Even though I wasn’t planning on having any bad days. I mean, what could go wrong in a room full of twenty four-year-olds?

Between babysitting over a dozen kids, student teaching at a public preschool, and working at a couple different daycares, my Smile File filled up pretty fast.

• Valentines or crayon scribbles from the kids? Straight into the Smile File.
• Thank you notes from the parents? Those were definitely going in the Smile File.
• Birthday cards from my coworkers? Sure, why not.

And even if it felt excessive, I’m glad I kept all those little coloring pages and cards. Because it turns out teaching is hard. Really hard.

There were a lot of days when I had to open my Smile File, or even just remind myself that I had a Smile File. Like the day
when the stomach bug was going around again and I had to stay late to clean up puke. Or the day our classroom flooded and we had to move eight toddlers and all our supplies to another room. Or day after day after day of working on the same things and feeling like I wasn’t helping the kids make progress fast enough.

On days like that, when it was easier to focus on the negatives and all the things I wasn’t doing good enough, I’d go home and pull out that bright green folder and pour over my Smile File.

I’d hold the fingerpainted Valentines. I’d read the thank you notes from parents that said things like “You are so clearly and uniquely equipped to care for children.” I’d look at the Christmas card pictures from the toddlers and remember how much they had grown and learned since then.

All the negatives didn’t seem so dark in light of all that.

What now?

My season as a teacher is over, but I still keep my Smile File in my desk. I even decided to make a second one for writing. So far writing hasn’t been anywhere near as exhausting as teaching, but there are still days when I feel discouraged or like I’m not
making progress fast enough.

So instead of giving into those thoughts, I’ll pull out my writing Smile File. It doesn’t have quite as much as my teaching Smile File yet, but it’s got acceptance letters from when I got short stories or devotionals published and notes from friends telling me to keep writing.

Which is more than enough to remind me that not only has God has called me to do this, He’s given me a supportive community who’s rooting for me every step of the way.

A Note from Vella

Thanks for sharing, Emily. For anyone who doesn’t know, Emily Gwaltney writes about celebrating the small things! Learn more about her and join her newsletter here: https://emilygwaltney.com/

When I sat down to figure out Lauren’s character in Beyond the Mirage, I knew right away that she was a joyful person. The fruit of the Spirit in her life is joy, and it’s apparent.

You can tell her joy is from Christ because she’s an orphan. She’s not dark and broody like so many orphan characters…she’s whimsical and raw and authentic. She also aspires to become a teacher, and is about to start her freshman year of college as an early childhood education major. I think she would love (and use) a smile file once she starts teaching!

Beyond the Mirage is now a #1 New Release!!

What if God allowed people to teleport?

Lauren is a quodesher–one of those people who can teleport a whole carful of people across the country.

When California wildfires turn the drive to her sister’s wedding into a mad dash teleportation tour of the country, she’s entrusted with her sister’s wedding ring…and thrust into a responsibility she knows she’s not ready for.

When the ring goes missing, Lauren is forced to make choices that will impact the lives of the people around her forever.

As the leader of this ragtag group of wedding guests, she finds herself in more trouble than she bargained for. And since when did she ask to be haggled about her parents’ death (ancient history) at every move?

Not all is as it seems. And trusting God…might just be a journey.

With the imagination and powerful prose of Nadine Brandes’s Wishtress, this clean YA novel speaks to the journeys we all embark on, and the faith it takes to put the broken pieces back together.

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What about you? What’s something you could put in your Smile File? What’s something
small that encourages you when you’re having a rough day? Comment below!