Experiencing a miracle or miracles!

There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.    

Albert Einstein

Each day, I receive a quote from gratefulness.org - it's a pick me up, a reminder to be thankful for the day. Sometimes (most of the time) they speak to me. Sometimes they hit me in the face as aha moments.

Most of us think of miracles in terms of the miracles that occurred in the Bible - giving the blind man sight, raising Lazarus from the dead, and the feeding of the 5,000.  Some believe in the literal interpretation, while others believe the metaphorical interpretation of these miracles. I like to believe both of them, and they both point in the direction of the divinity of Christ.

Today's quote from Albert Einstein seems to ring particularly true to me today. For in the past few weeks, Olivia and her family are experiencing a miracle of her healing from a freak accident. When her mother first starting writing her letters to all of us who were praying and following Olivia's chain of events, her letters closed with "expecting a miracle". As Olivia continued to recover from her first surgery, and the outcome was beginning to show that Olivia was going to be fine, she changed the closing of her letters from the "expecting a miracle" to "experiencing a miracle".  Olivia was definitely experiencing a miracle of healing from her freak accident.

But the miracle was more than that. The miracle expressed itself in more than the healing. It brought a community of those who know and love the family in ways to show their support of them. And it went beyond that. People who did not know the family also showed their support to them.  Some of those miracles were quiet ones, ones that no one will know how it happened. Others will be evident in how they helped the family. Then there is the miracle of those who receive the blessing of seeing the faith this family holds so deeply to their hearts, "that their light shined forth before others, that they saw their good works and praised their Father in heaven".

It is a two way street for that miracle that continues. Miracles are happening for Olivia and her family, some quite quotidian in nature, while others are the "wow" miracles. However, we too, are seeing the miracle of a family who, though, are going through tough times, are keeping the faith and have hundreds of others who are supporting them during that journey. In return, we see the  miracle that faith offers them and us.

Today, we all experience the first official day of spring. For those of us who live in the deep south, we are seeing the awakening of new life in the flowers who are blooming, and those that are ready to burst out and show us the beauty of God's glorious flower show. Spring for Olivia means new life, as her second surgery (and hopefully the last) will allow her to experience new life, that she will be ready to bloom, as God's healing powers continue to show us that miracles continue to occur in our lives, through Olivia, her family, and each and every one of us.

Doodlebug #2 - Olivia

Almost two weeks ago, a precious little girl at our school experienced a freak accident which resulted in major surgery, including a colostomy, to allow for healing to take place. This is a family with five children, the oldest being in 3rd grade. Little Olivia's accident resulted in a perforated bowel, and was taken to a children's hospital three hours away to receive top notch care. As many accidents, it turned their life upside down. The community has surrounded them with support, providing meals, keeping the other children, providing financial support, and praying for Olivia and the family. 


Olivia is going to be fine.  It may be tough what she is going through, learning to adjust to her new way her body is working right now. I am sure that the responsibilities of the parents are overwhelming, trying to juggle all that is going on in their life. The family is a shining star in how they are handling this - how they allow God to surround them in the toughest of times. Their faith has been their backbone. But it doesn't mean they wonder why, or get scared, or wonder what will happen next.


I was reading one of the blogs I have found that has been a source of wonderful quotes and words of wisdom. Today's post made me think of what has happened to Olivia and how her family has handled this situation. This quote from Barbara Brown Taylor made me think of them and the challenges which they are experiencing now.

"Terrible things happen, and you are not always to blame.

But don’t let that stop you from doing what you are doing.

That torn place your fear has opened up inside of you is a holy place.

Look around while you are there. Pay attention to what you feel.

It may hurt you to stay there and it may hurt you to see,

but it is not the kind of hurt that leads to death.

It is the kind that leads to life."

Barbara Brown Taylor, from "Life-Giving Fear, Christian Century 1998.

and so we pray:
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves:

Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls,

that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body,

and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Book of Common Prayer, Collect for 3rd Sunday in Lent

Olivia, Aimee, Joel, and the rest of the "doodlebugs",  my prayers, among many others praying for you, surround you with healing love.

Special thanks goes to Roberta for providing the resource of the quote at her blog.