Miracles Abound!

©jb katke

What you see here are both the culprit and the recipient. Okay, maybe I hand a hand in it too. Literally.

Cleaning the family room (some might consider that miracle)—I foolishly tried moving these candles at the same time. They are weighty little things and I did not have a good grip on them. One came crashing down on that glass table top. Visions of broken glass ravaged my mind—not to mention the price of replacing said glass that was custom-made.

Nothing happened. So typical of our worst thought scenarios, yes? It is a little thing that could have been big—but now, after the fact, is a huge miracle.

That was not the first of our holiday miracles. A second is the developing relationship with our great-grandchildren. I had a hand in that as well. Do you have children in the family that live a distance away?

Here is what I did. Based upon the child’s birthday, I send a little note with a picture of myself or Papa every three months. They are little and some cannot yet read, so I keep my words to a minimum—but something that may interest them and share what we are doing in our life. In-so-doing we are becoming more like the family we are. Recently, in taking some Christmas gifts to them, my efforts were rewarded. A big miracle in our eyes. We all hope to be someone to somebody, right?

Our third miracle happened on our way home from visiting the great-grands. We were within inches of making contact with a speeding vehicle at the gas station. Accident averted. With pounding hearts, full aware of what could have been. A genuine miracle and proof angels do watch over us. There is never a good time for an accident, but especially so at Christmas. It was a miracle to us.

My Momma used to say, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” I say ditto to the little incidental things that are a big deal in our eyes. While all these are huge to me, they are not the biggest ever.

The biggest one ever I had no hand in. It took place long ago, before I was born. It is the birth of the little baby that we celebrate during this Christmas season. This sweet innocent infant left the riches of the kingdom he lived in, specifically for me. And you.

It was by his choice and plan—to take the blame and die for the wrong we see all around us. That is how much mankind means to him. This. You. So that you might spend eternity together with him. But that choice is yours to make.

See the miracle for what it is. Look closely each day to see the little miracles that only he can work.

My Two Moms

 

A tribute to my two Moms. One gave me life, the other gave me her son.

Isn’t it interesting how much love grows when we no longer have what we once had? In my youth, I didn’t give my mother the respect and admiration she deserved. My eyes never saw what she had experienced, bringing her into motherhood. I made the mistake of comparing her to my mother-in-law, whom I had seen events that changed her life.  So my lack of facts influenced this immature mind. But I know now Mom, thank you for your loving and humble perseverance as I grew to be a Mom myself.

Oh yes, that lovely promotion to motherhood, that opens our eyes to how much we don’t know after all!

What I witnessed and/or heard about my mother-in-law led me to believe she had a challenging life. In one particular conversation she surprised me  saying she never felt anger at God for the hard places she was in. What a lesson that taught me! Life is what it is. Its how we respond to circumstances that makes all the difference in the world.

That’s why these photos I’m sharing are in their young adult years. Like all of us, they started out in life with hope in an unknown future. What took place in our Mom’s life prior to motherhood is a mystery, but says everything about who they grow to be. Events come and circumstances go, but in the process give us the means to know God better as He molds our life in accordance to his plan for each of us.

Thank you Lord, for my two Moms, I love them dearly. They have moved to their eternal homes, but because they remain in my heart they continue to live. Happy Mother’s Day!

 

Intro

Have you ever had an inadvertent conversation with a know-it-all? There is no point in bringing up reason or logic because this individual has an answer for everything.

This is how mine went:

My thought: I would enjoy reading a book about an average Christian and how God impacted her life.

Mindreader: Why don’t you write it?

Me: Are you kidding? I’ve never dreamed of writing or becoming an author. I wouldn’t even know how to go about it.

Know-it-All: You could learn. Did you notice that Heart of America Christian Writers Network website about a conference in your area?

Myself: Yes, but it’s expensive.

God: Following me is costly, but its worth it.

I: You know I’ve gotten myself in trouble too many times with saying things better left unsaid.

Circumstance Planner: I let that happen for you to realize how much power there is in words. Now that you understand that, write!

Me: What about that quilt ministry i was involved with? That was serving you.

Creator: Yes it was, but that was your idea and it didn’t go as planned did it? You and I don’t think the same, I have something different in mind for you.

Myself: You know how uneventful my life is. There’s not much to write about. It would require using a computer, you know how much I hate technology. I get in situations that i don’t know what to do.

Timeless One: That’s part of the world you live in, I know some folks that can help you deal with it. You’ve had some experiences to write about, I’ll help bring more of them to your mind.

I: There’s another issue, interacting with people. I’m not comfortable sharing my life with others.

Jesus: I love people! Tell them about me. Sometimes I can be funny, tell them that too.

Me: You mean like this house I’m living in? The type I swore I’d never live in?

Holy Spirit: You’re catching on.

And so my story begins…