Miracles

I've only told a few people this, but I've prayed recently for a miracle. I won't go into all the details here, but suffice to say that it is something that, should God in His mercy, decide to grant it to me, would change my life and our family's life for the better. While I wait for God to answer my prayer in one way or another, I have discovered something that I already knew, but I suppose had forgotten.


Miracles come in all shapes and sizes. Some are dramatic and flashy, while others are more subdued and hidden. Some happen in a moment and some happen over time. Some are so astounding that there is no doubt that something miraculous occurred and some are so subtle that only those who truly believe that a miracle has happened will be convinced that it is so. What I have found most recently is that all the little moments of life that we so often take for granted are tiny miracles sprinkled throughout our days by the hand of Almighty God. Let me tell you what I mean.

Every day, my routine is fairly similar. Some things change, but the basics are the same. It's easy to get into a rut and stop noticing all the little miraculous moments that come across my path. In fact, I've gotten very good at it, until tonight. My eldest daughter, M², and I went for a walk in the early evening before dinner. She wanted to get some exercise and it was so pretty and cool outside that I suggested we take a very short walk together. We loped across our lawn toward the street and as we walked side by side, she slid her 7-almost-8 year old hand into mine. As our hands connected, I felt a deep surge of affection for and pride in my tow-headed biggest girl that came rushing through me. I glanced at her and our eyes met as we both smiled and she said, "Let's go this way, down that street." We didn't get very far on our walk as we encountered some neighbours out in their yard two houses away and stopped to chat. As I spoke with the other mother, M² ran around their yard with their youngest daughter who is the same age as our AB. While we talked, I watched her running, her long blonde hair, now free of its school day ponytail, rippling behind her in the slowly fading early evening light and marvelled at how beautiful and wonderful she is. As this thought occurred to me, the word "miracle" crossed my brain. She is indeed a miracle, but it was more that. This moment was a miracle. Seeing her like this in this moment in time, running and playing with the joyful innocence that she still has was one of those tiny miracles. It's the kind of thing I want to hold onto and ponder.

As I write this, the sun has long since set and all three of my sweet girls have long since been tucked up in bed, but the miracle lingers in my heart and mind. Knowing that my day is full of these little miraculous moments, from now on, I am going to do my best to see them and hold fast to them.