When is a coincidence more than simply a coincidence?

When is that feeling of ‘Wow, we got lucky,’ not so easily explained as dumb luck?

What constitutes a miracle?

Miriam-Webster Dictionary defines a miracle as: an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs -or- an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment. Is it possible to believe in miracles and not believe in God or a higher presence?

In my early adult life, I considered myself spiritual, believing in a higher power but not believing in Jesus or God as represented in the bible. I needed tangible evidence of Jesus’ existence. I saw the bible as an elaborate collection of fantastical stories, and the miracles that Jesus accomplished as embellished acts intended to brainwash the public. I must admit that at this time my knowledge of the bible was limited to what I had read (very little) in bible studies as a child and what was discussed in my brief brushes with Christianity attending church with my dearest friend. One of these churches I had attended had left me with a horrible certainty that the church’s main concern was all about collecting money. The few times I had attended during this very impressionable time in my life, the sermons seemed to be all about tithing. At one point the women in the church surrounded me, laying their hands on my forehead and shoulders and boisterously requested God remove the migraines that I had experienced most of my life. The migraines continued, and I was left with a very sour feeling in my heart towards the Christian church.

But my friend’s mother had a passion for God and an unwavering faith. I admired her strength and the peace her faith seemed to bring her. I longed for that peace. I could never know at the time, but that peace would too flood my heart and frequently overwhelm me with the comfort it brought me.

Ah, but I digress. Miracles. I don’t remember experiencing miracles as a child, nor as a young adult. I had put up a wall against anything spiritual in my perseverance to find the truth through tangible evidence of God and Jesus’ existence. I believe now that I must have experienced these small miracles through out my early life and seen them as mere coincidence. My eye opening came through reading and discovering the truth my own way. My eyes were opened to the endless possibilities through God. I began to realize all the intricate occurrences in my own and my family’s lives could not be explained away as luck.

Most of these small occurrences surround a general theme; God’s timing.

When the church, prayer and trusting in God became a major part of our family’s lives – miraculously all the miniscule inconveniences that surmounted into massive obstacles in time, began to work themselves out. Each small step we made seemed to bring us forward – no matter how small – whereas before we allowed God into our lives, we were stagnant.

Our living situation had become unbearable, and when we could take no more, with prayer and a matter of days, the perfect situation presented its self.

Our car was giving us so many problems but the cost to repair it was so much more than the car was worth. My job had me driving from one side of the island to the other, and one day after picking up the kids, we noticed an ember dropping down behind the car as we drove into the driveway. We safely got out of the car and when my husband jumped in to move it away from the house – the undercarriage caught fire! My husband jumped out and was unburned. The house did not catch fire. No one was injured. Part one of this little miracle; it could have caught fire when the kids and I were on the road! Part two of this particular miracle was that the car was appraised at a total loss and our insurance gave us more than we owed allowing us to purchase another vehicle.

Just this year a wave pounded me into the shore, snapping my C1 vertebra. I heard the pop and instantly knew I was in trouble. As my daughter helped to pull me to shore and then onto my feet, all I could think was that I should not be walking, I should not be walking! My next thought, before the concussion confusion kicked in, was that there was an angel on my shoulder and God still had plans for me – plans that required me to not be paralyzed.

These is just a few instances. There have been so many! Each time I pray for something such as a job opportunity, peace of mind for my stressed child, guidance, will power, inspiration; God delivers – not right away, not as I expect and certainly not always as I’d prefer, but God delivers. And I consider each one of these small prayers answered, a small miracle. A newborn child, a sunset, forgiveness, a call from a friend when you need it most, all small miracles, gifts – not luck, not fate and not coincidences. My eyes are wide open and full of awe at all the gifts bestowed on our family. I could choose to focus on the hardships – health issues, financial concerns, an uncertain future – but today I choose Grace.