Small Miracles
Categories: Inspirational
Tags: Christmas;New Year;healthcare;
This old year is in its last throes and indeed, has already passed into history in some parts of the world. We all know the headlines grabbing stories of death and destruction, wreaked by dastardly men whose mission in life is to kill and maim. This writer was almost ready to post an article on the "architects of death," but life intervened. So, enough of those who love death. Life beckons.
It is time to talk about we the ordinary, who do extraordinarily well, simply by surviving in a really hostile environment, known as the world. This post is the beginning of a weekly series on "small miracles."
Two days ago, I e-mailed some friends about my "Christmas miracles." The e-mail discussed the miracles that I had personally experienced this Christmas season. My miracles were about others showing their love for me in very tangible ways. I was overwhelmed as I was surrounded by "angels in earthly apparel," who included my Pastor, Dr. Willis Lucas, my hairdresser, Odette, and a clerk at my favorite store, Trader Joe's! I am truly blessed.
I was kind of surprised at the very positive responses that I received to that e-mail, detailing the generosity of my angels. I expected perhaps perfunctory responses, about "how great that was," along those lines. I should have known better, knowing the character of my thoughtful friends. Joyce, who I am going to, by "executive order," make my agent, responded:
Ercille, your stories always warm my heart and I look forward to treating you to lunch (or dinner, whichever you have time for).
You should write a little column about "small miracles" (good name for the column too). I think people would really enjoy it! As a weekly column in the paper (better than Ann Landers). You could go around the city interviewing people who have experienced small miracles that warm the heart and remind us that God is still in our lives. I wish I knew someone who worked for the paper who could get you an interview. Or perhaps you should just write a couple of them and send them in on spec!
To declare that my little vignettes are better than Ann Landers, is indeed high praise! I am not even worthy to pick up a pen dropped by Ann Landers, but I will enjoy the complimenty comparison, at least for one day!
Another friend, Eric, seconded Joyce's idea:
Hey, Ercille. that is a GREAT idea. Times are bad and we are inundated with negative stories. Now is the time when we need to hear positive stories to remind us that there is still a lot of good in the world. After I came back from Vietnam and before I got out, I used to have people periodically show compassion to me. Mostly it was women. Small things like talking to me. I came to believe that these people were among the angels that Alabama mentioned in the song Angels Among Us. So I guess that means I have had experience with literal and figurative angels. I don't believe angels exist. I KNOW they exist, literal ones, and being literally touched by a literal angel-------. well, you`re never the same again. And , Ercille, it`s mind boggling. Anyway, I love hearing your stories, too. Thank you so much for sharing. You never know when you might just be the inspiration someone needs.
So, I am running with Joyce's suggestion and inaugurating the "weekly column," beginning with the miracle of birth. I did not even have to go out to interview "the man on the street." It is as if this story line fell into my lap. I was able to pluck it from the family tree. My own family recently experienced two small miracles of birth, the arrival of nephew Zuri, and niece Adeola.
Last year at a family banquet, my Stepmother, Mrs. Josie Christmas, had prayerfully asked God to spare her life to see more grandchildren. She found out that God does indeed answer prayers. In the past year, she has been made a grandmother seven times, with an eighth on the way. Her sons and especially her daughters and daughters-in-law, are now expressly forbidding her to ever utter that prayer again, after those seven, including triplets! We are all delighted with each new arrival. I get to experience all of the glory of being an aunt, as I get to make announcements to my friends that I am an auntie, "again...and again," and share the cute pictures. This auntie thing is perfect....revel in the cuteness, without having to make a trip to the diaper pail!
Two of those small miracles came forth almost at Christmas time. Adeola the younger of the two, is too small to yet display a personality. Older cousin, Zuri, is already showing his personality. He has certainly affected his auntie-for the better! Brother Mark sent the following picture, and my heart was no longer mine. I had never seen a baby asleep with such a beatific expression of peace and sheer contentment, cradled in the arms of his Mom.
Since receiving the photo, I have been using it as both a wake up call affirming the preciousness of every single life, and as a reminder of the Creator of us all. Oh, that we could all be cradled in His arms! I have never been one to believe in the single cell theory of evolution, and if I did, that photo would have cured me. Maybe the single cell could "evolve" into a purely physical recreation, but the soul exemplified by that expression? Priceless and matchless!
Zuri smiles:
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