In my pain and suffering, I actually prayed for a miracle. I prayed that God take away the pain or at least make it bearable. But the pain stayed on. I prayed for strength to courageously bear my pain; but courage failed me. I prayed for sleep so that I will not feel the pain; but sleep wouldn’t come. I prayed for people to reach out to me to comfort me. They did – with loving care and tenderness; but I yearned for more. I prayed for love but all I could feel was my pain. I prayed for light and all I could see was the darkness.
And in those dark hours, I began to lose my faith. Prayers do not work and miracles do not happen. At least now in my life. Nor in my here and now.
All the while, the biggest miracle was staring me in the face. It was a miracle that I was alive at all. Once more, this lesson struck me: there is no reason why I should be here and yet there I was – alive. I might have been going through a lot of pain but I was alive. And I have been given everything I needed to make something out of the life I have received.
I am a miracle. I should not be here and yet here I am. When I wake up each morning, there is the miracle of a new day. I have received talents and gifts. I can use these for my own benefit. When I use them for others, there is the miracle of true generosity. I have my limits and weaknesses. When I strive to go beyond these weaknesses and limitation, there is the miracle of God’s grace at work in my life.
Miracles are not in the stars and in the heavens. They happen in my relationships and in my moments.