Do you notice Miracles?

When small, amazing things happen to you, do you dismiss them as coincidence or do you wonder if there is something more to them? If I only had sporadic amazing things happen to me, I might overlook them for what they really are—miracles.  However, I have amazing things happen to me every day, all throughout the day. I cannot dismiss them. I am here to tell you that God is alive and at work in my life. And if he’s at work in my life, then why not yours? God loves all of His children, including you.

I have some theories about how heavenly things work. I believe we are here on this earth to be tested and prove ourselves. I believe our trials can make us stronger. Thus, God doesn’t usually take them away. Similar to encouraging a baby to learn to walk. It’s hard for the baby but it’s a good thing to learn to walk. But God can help us with small things because He just can’t help Himself. He loves us so much. 

Here are a couple examples of miracles in my life. If I’m in a hurry and I need to find socks for a family member, I can reach my hand into a basket full of clean socks and pull out two socks. They always match and are for the right person in my household of five. Isn’t that cool? This only happens when I’m in a hurry.

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One time I went to my gym which provided towels. When I got to the front desk, I was told they were out of towels. I was bummed as I had come to use the steam room and I would need towels. I muttered under my breath as I randomly chose an available locker. I opened this locker and I couldn’t believe my eyes. The locker was full of clean towels. I was amazed. Out of curiosity, I opened many nearby lockers and no other locker had clean towels in them. I had picked the only one. Do you think God is aware of me and plans for my every need? Oh, yes! I have miracles like this happen to me every day. Perhaps God delights to bless me because He knows I notice. Plus, I give him praise. I hope I would be like the one leper who came back to praise God for being cured of leprosy out of the ten cleansed lepers.

In honor of the greatest miracle, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, I will be focusing my next few entries on miracles and how God works in my life. If you don’t think God is at work in your life, if you don’t think God delights to bless and help you at every opportunity, think again and start noticing miracles in your life. You just might be amazed.

Good Samaritan for Today

(I’ve been working full-time that past three weeks due to family need. Working full-time is difficult for me with my health problems. I apologize for the gap.)

I’ve had amazing opportunities to share Bible stories with a friend who is hearing them for the first time. One of these is “The Good Samaritan,” a parable by Jesus when asked “who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) As a refresher, a man traveled and was robbed, wounded and left for dead. As he lay there bleeding by the side of the road, three individuals passed him, with varying reactions. The first man was a priest who moved to the other side of the road to pass him. The second, a pious Levite, did the same. The third man was a Samaritan, with a mutual hate relationship with the Jews. But, “when he saw him, he had compassion on him. (Luke 10:33)” He took care of the man’s wounds, took him to an inn, and left money to pay for him until he could come back. Then Jesus asked which among the three was the robbed man’s neighbor. “And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. They said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise (Luke 10:37).”

As I’ve considered this parable, I’ve found some ways to apply it to today. There is the typical response of some “priests” and others to avoid the unpleasant and purposefully move away from the person and look away. We see this much with homeless people who most people won’t venture to look them in the eye, even in the face of obvious suffering. How about this next one?  I’ve seen people in honest, dire need whose families will ignore their suffering out of ignorance. One I’ve seen misused is  thinking that “tough love” is the answer to every question. They see their loved ones but they don’t really see them.  They certainly won’t help them. Perhaps the thieves in this person’s life are addiction, divorce and a host of other problems. I cry when I think of how one friend’s family goes out of their way not to help her.

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Here’s another one I encountered with some priests. I had been robbed by my mental illness. When I was in need and in a misunderstood and desperate situation, I had priests who came up to me.  I rejoiced that finally someone had come to help. These priests bent down and lowered their hands. Finally, someone was coming to extend a hand of compassion and help. But, I was wrong. They lowered their hands and began to point the fingers of shame and blame at me. They had not come to help although they thought they had. 

I continued to wait for help while wounded in the wilderness. I no longer waited for men. My hope was in one alone. He did not disappoint. The Savior of the world came to my aid when I felt judged by everyone. We became the best of friends. He is still restoring and healing my wounds. I try to follow in His work and help the helpless, the abandoned. I think suffering is not always apparent. I mentioned one person to my husband who was suffering. “But they have a big smile all the time,” he said.  I also hear from several that they are willing to help anyone but they just don’t notice other people’s needs. If someone would just point out other’s needs, then they would be glad to help them. Still sounds like a bit of a copout. Try to really see people, whether homeless, addicted or depressed. Whether smiling or not. You could be the Savior’s hands.

Dedicated to a Dear Friend.