Thursday, July 18, 2013

Miracles


    Miracles can heal, give sight, health and strength.  And, more often than not, miracles are surrounded by challenges.  Miracles often indicate that something holy is taking place.  Perhaps, the real miracle is our ability, at that moment, to SEE a stepping stone amidst a sea of stumbling blocks, and courageously take one step at a time, into the unknown.  Christ walks on the water.  Peter also, miraculously walks on water---- all while the storm and winds rage. The life of Christ himself.  His ministry full of miracles.  Yet, also full of challenges, or stumbling blocks----- mocking by the unbelievers, tempting by the same adversary who tempts us, physical challenges of being beat and spat upon and then, the requirement to take up His cross. And, even moments of feeling alone.  Yet, through all these challenges, Christ ministers, serves, heals, and teaches.  A life of challenge!  A life of holiness! The child who is healed of cancer, but the family left with thousands of dollars in medical expenses in the seeking of such a miracle.  The miraculous survivors of a plane crash, yet a lifetime of scars and burns and challenges, which seem to surround the miracle---- and must be faced each and everyday.  So, in a strange sort of way, challenges may even be an indication of a miracle soon-to-come!!  I think of Mary, and her carrying the baby Savior---- truly a miracle!!  But, she must have been stared at.  She may have even felt different or outcast. Perhaps, she even felt like she did not fit in.  Yet, she carried inside her, a miracle!!!

My teenage daughter had asked me, a couple of times throughout the week, to get her a bucket of sand.  I believe, to leave with a note for a friend.  Needless to say, this bucket of sand did not seem to make it to the top of my "To-Do List."  Getting kids to school and various events, accomplishing everyone's homework, keeping up with dishes and laundry and keeping everyone's emotion's in check seemed to be more the priority.  A few days in a row, this persistent daughter would leave notes, with faith in me, that I could not only find the time, but find sand.  So, the night she needed it arrived.  I got home about 10pm.  And, on the kitchen counter was a colorful empty bucket, a small shovel and a note of pleading, from daughter to mother, "Mom, please fill this with sand!!!"  My sweet friend and I looked at each other and grabbed the bucket.

 We jumped in his car and I said a silent prayer, "Help!  I need a miracle! I need sand!"  The sand was not crucial, but my ability to help my child was.  We decided to head to a park where there might be some sand under a swing.  We rounded the corner, in the dark, and made our way to the main entrance.  As we entered the parking lot, a large something stopped us in our tracks.  We turned on our high beams, then looked at each other, stunned.  There in front of us, in the middle of the parking lot, late that night, far from any beach, was an enormous pile of sand!!!!  We quickly filled the bucket and headed back to the house.  I KNEW beyond any shadow of a doubt, that pile of sand was a miracle!!  A miracle amidst a week of finals and challenges that come with being a single parent.  That pile of sand testified that miracles are real, everyday, if we look for them!!  He CAN move mountains.  But, more often than not, the mountain he moves is within us, motivating us, empowering us, encouraging us to keep going and not to quit!!  "A pile of sand", has become our name for miracles!  We find "piles of sand" throughout our week, in the gas tank that lasts a little longer than it did when our wallets were full, in the call from a friend just when you felt forgotten, a note on your pillow when you were empty, and the text from a friend telling you to stay in school just when you were ready to give up.  I believe that with every miraculous "pile of sand", I am reminded not only of my higher power, but that I matter to Him----- and that is power!!  I believe that miracles are often surrounded by challenges......and that it could be just around the corner, right when you are ready to give up.  Miracles are often surrounded by challenges-----which means you are not on the wrong track, but exactly the right one.  Miracles often mean something holy is taking place.  Challenges often pave the way for miracles.  I believe that just around the corner, when you least expect it, and when it doesn't make sense, we may find the perfect "pile of sand!"   I believe in being strong, even when everything seems to be going wrong!!
 I believe in MIRACLES!!   






2 comments:

  1. Amazing, as always! Your insight is beautiful, but that you find the time to write it down and share it is incredible to me!

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