MIRACLE
1
: an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs
2
: an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment
No matter how you define the word, I have seen many miracles in my life. Some big, some small, but when you experience a miracle you don't think about the size for they are always perfectly sized for your needs. They don't always come when you expect them, but they come when they are best for you.
Such as our recent house-buying adventure...actually maybe I should start just a little further back with Sam's birth.
For most of the month before Sam was born I had "false labor". Contractions would start and go on for hours and then eventually just fizzle out. I was worn out and ready to have my baby. I was tired of my body "teasing" me. Every time I would think labor was starting I would get so excited. Then it would stop and I would be so sad and frustrated. I would pray to Heavenly Father to please let it happen, please let me meet my baby boy that day. Heavenly Father kept telling me that all would be well, that my baby would be well, and that his timing was the perfect timing. I would feel comforted but still frustrated. Of course the Lord was right. His timing is perfect. I have to believe that he meant for Sam and I to have that moment alone. Every other time, Lars was home, or could hurry home. Every other time my neighbor, who is a midwife, was home. Every other time was perfect according to me, at the time. I kept joking that when I finally went into labor that the baby would come with a bang, that I wouldn't have anytime. Everyone laughed at me and told me that was wishful thinking, that I would have plenty of time. When the time really came, it was nothing like I had planned for or expected.
Of course I've already written about the experience but this post is more about miracles and in this instance, trusting in the Lords timing and plan for each of us. I never ever thought I would have a baby all alone at home. I never thought I would go to my due date, as I never had before, and especially since I had been having contractions for 3 weeks. When the time actually came it was subtle at first and then BANG! Sam was making his arrival. And yet, it was perfect. Contraction on top of contraction, to the point that when i tried to call Lars i could barely talk, not because of pain necessarily but when your stomach muscles are being squeezed that hard you just can't talk. It really wasn't the worst pain I've ever been in, but it is the most intense sensations. I never felt panicky at all. I remember wishing for it to slow down, praying out loud "Please let this slow down enough for Rebecca and Lars to get here"
I think it was by the next contraction that I knew that wasn't going to happen. I gave myself over to the Lord, putting Sam and I in his hands. And that is exactly where we belong. He guided us through perfectly. And as I sat there looking down at my baby, him looking back at me, just the two of us, I knew he was right. His timing is perfect. I am very selfish with my babies.I love to hold them all the time, I hate "sharing" them, so having those moments with Sam just to myself is so precious to me. So the miracle of Sam's birth, the lesson I take away, is that the Lord's time is the perfect time.
For most of the month before Sam was born I had "false labor". Contractions would start and go on for hours and then eventually just fizzle out. I was worn out and ready to have my baby. I was tired of my body "teasing" me. Every time I would think labor was starting I would get so excited. Then it would stop and I would be so sad and frustrated. I would pray to Heavenly Father to please let it happen, please let me meet my baby boy that day. Heavenly Father kept telling me that all would be well, that my baby would be well, and that his timing was the perfect timing. I would feel comforted but still frustrated. Of course the Lord was right. His timing is perfect. I have to believe that he meant for Sam and I to have that moment alone. Every other time, Lars was home, or could hurry home. Every other time my neighbor, who is a midwife, was home. Every other time was perfect according to me, at the time. I kept joking that when I finally went into labor that the baby would come with a bang, that I wouldn't have anytime. Everyone laughed at me and told me that was wishful thinking, that I would have plenty of time. When the time really came, it was nothing like I had planned for or expected.
Of course I've already written about the experience but this post is more about miracles and in this instance, trusting in the Lords timing and plan for each of us. I never ever thought I would have a baby all alone at home. I never thought I would go to my due date, as I never had before, and especially since I had been having contractions for 3 weeks. When the time actually came it was subtle at first and then BANG! Sam was making his arrival. And yet, it was perfect. Contraction on top of contraction, to the point that when i tried to call Lars i could barely talk, not because of pain necessarily but when your stomach muscles are being squeezed that hard you just can't talk. It really wasn't the worst pain I've ever been in, but it is the most intense sensations. I never felt panicky at all. I remember wishing for it to slow down, praying out loud "Please let this slow down enough for Rebecca and Lars to get here"
I think it was by the next contraction that I knew that wasn't going to happen. I gave myself over to the Lord, putting Sam and I in his hands. And that is exactly where we belong. He guided us through perfectly. And as I sat there looking down at my baby, him looking back at me, just the two of us, I knew he was right. His timing is perfect. I am very selfish with my babies.I love to hold them all the time, I hate "sharing" them, so having those moments with Sam just to myself is so precious to me. So the miracle of Sam's birth, the lesson I take away, is that the Lord's time is the perfect time.
Yet, I didn't really learn it the first time around I guess because shortly after Sam was born we decided to rent out our house and buy a house that suited our family's needs better. Thus began that longest few months of my life. We put an offer on a house and things were progressing fairly quickly, until we began to run into roadblock after roadblock. Each time the roadblocks were cleared and things worked out much better than they would have otherwise. The Lord knows our needs. There were several times that we were so close to closing on the house and something would happen to delay it. It was almost deja vu like. I was back to crying to the Lord, telling him I couldn't wait one more minute. Wait I did and things worked out perfectly, much better than my own plans. In fact the roadblocks brought about miracles that wouldn't have come about otherwise.
There are everyday miracles as well. Things that maybe don't scream divine intervention as much as extraordinary events. Then there are the things that are absolutely ordinary events but in their quiet way scream that there is a divine purpose to life, and there is more beyond this life. Sometimes you have to watch for the miracles and sometimes you'd have to be extremely stubborn not to realize you have witnessed a miracle. What is amazing to me is that often those with the least recognize miracles in their life more than those with much more of this worlds goods. Maybe because they aren't taking for granted things we feel are essentials that really are extras.
This is the season of miracles, or so it is often called. I think we see it that way because we are looking for and are more open to them. Then there is the fact that there are more people bringing about miracles for others as they try to help those with less. I think that is Christ's gift to us. To give us a time where our efforts are more concentrated, more sincere, and more gratefully received. It is a time when we can refocus. It is when we can give him a gift my serving others around us as he would have us do.
Miracles, they happen on a daily basis. Sometimes they are big, sometimes they are small. Hopefully we can recognize each one and thank our Father in Heaven for them all.
There are everyday miracles as well. Things that maybe don't scream divine intervention as much as extraordinary events. Then there are the things that are absolutely ordinary events but in their quiet way scream that there is a divine purpose to life, and there is more beyond this life. Sometimes you have to watch for the miracles and sometimes you'd have to be extremely stubborn not to realize you have witnessed a miracle. What is amazing to me is that often those with the least recognize miracles in their life more than those with much more of this worlds goods. Maybe because they aren't taking for granted things we feel are essentials that really are extras.
This is the season of miracles, or so it is often called. I think we see it that way because we are looking for and are more open to them. Then there is the fact that there are more people bringing about miracles for others as they try to help those with less. I think that is Christ's gift to us. To give us a time where our efforts are more concentrated, more sincere, and more gratefully received. It is a time when we can refocus. It is when we can give him a gift my serving others around us as he would have us do.
Miracles, they happen on a daily basis. Sometimes they are big, sometimes they are small. Hopefully we can recognize each one and thank our Father in Heaven for them all.
