Finding miracles

In thinking back on the posts from the past several weeks I'm taking a moment to pause. In thinking back on the motivation for the December posts I go back to the origination of the idea. When I think of December, I consider it the month of miracles … the real ones, the big ones … the baby born in the manger, the oil that burned for 8 nights and light returning after the darkest, longest night of the year.

In my personal quest to savor the month and the anticipation of Christmas, I set out on a mission to find a miracle each day - and to write about it the following day. It has been an amazing journey so far .. and today is only the 17th! Its helped me focus on the season, kindness and finding the good in people. I've shared my mission with many friends - who sometimes stop to ask, 'hey, what was today's miracle?" I think they're enjoying my journey too.

Yesterday an old and dear friend reached out from Virginia to ask me to help her niece, a college student here in the city I live in find summer employment as a nanny. I've never met her niece, but Becky is a wonderful woman who's taught me to remember what matters in the balancing of work and motherhood. When faced with a decision about attending a school play or staying late at work I remind myself to think about, 'what would Becky do?', and then it becomes very clear!

In Becky's quest to make connections for her niece, I sent a note to a family I knew in NY with two daughters who mentioned to me in the fall that they'd be looking for in-home child care for the summer. No miracle yet, I realize.

This mom has been relatively cold to me in my attempts to welcome them to our area, connect our daughters who are in the same class and perhaps just perception - but I haven't felt any warmth at all from her. But in the spirit of Christmas I reached out to connect Becky's niece with her.

And then a miracle happened!

She responded with an amazingly appreciative note of thanks! Warmth I'd never experienced with her. And it reminded me that regardless of how people appear, continue to do the right thing. You'll never be sorry you did the right thing!

So my miracle is the miracle of connection .. and finding ways to make things fit!

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