Miracles ...

As the month of December began I celebrated as I always do with my philosophy about miracles.  We all know that it's the month of miracles with the oil that burned for 8 days, the royal son born in the stable and the return of light after the longest, darkest night of the year.

Then I remembered an adage that says, 'if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten."  Yet I wanted this year to be different.  Here's what happens when you look for things to be grateful for, you focus on the positive and you realize you have so much to be grateful for.  When you look for miracles - you might find yourself stretching to find things, moments, experiences to call a miracle.

As the days passed I realized that miracles are not about me, but about those around me.  And if I couldn't have everyone looking for miracles, it was my time to start creating some!  Truth be told, I didn't set out to create miracles.  In my mind I envision that's exactly how Jesus started.  He didn't get out of bed in the morning, arms high overhead in the sign of victory yelling, 'Let's get to making some miracles today!"  What he did was help the ones he could help.  Make a difference to those that didn't quite believe.

It would be easy to help convince Ellie and Bill of miracles by making things happen for them, but they're already there!  They believe it's possible.  I knew I should begin with people who really needed a miracle.  Caveat here:  I'm not Oprah.  I didn't buy cars, homes, vacations.  I didn't hand things out for the attention.

This began very slowly.  Very innocently with an act of kindness for an unexpected co-worker.  She made mention of Christmas music, I asked if she'd heard a new song this year.  When she hadn't instead of texting a link, I burned her a CD of my 2016 playlist.  Innocent right?  I left it on her desk with a little note.

The following week a co-worker confided her frustration in her marriage.  I asked if she and her spouse socialized with other happily, married couples.  She said she didn't know many, so I offered to get our families together at the local Christmas tree lighting ceremony - no dinner, no planning.  Just an opportunity to share the Christmas spirit.  The following day I wrapped a burlap ribbon around a copy of Carry On, Warrior from my shelf and set it on her desk chair with a card.  The card said, "I know marriage is hard.  Here's the great thing - you can do hard things!!"

A couple days later during a meeting a co-worker shared frustration with some personal issues.  "If only I were married, I could use that built-in support!"  The following day I put together a small Christmas floral arrangement with white roses, greenery and sprigs of red berries.  I added a card that said, "Merry Christmastime!  from Herself the Elf" and left it on her desk.  I didn't need to be recognized, I only wanted her to see that she had people to support her and lift her spirits.

Later that day she asked me if it was me, and I said yes.  I told her that as she told her story the previous day it seemed like she really needed a hug.  And since I couldn't do that in a meeting - I just wanted to bring her a smile to show her people cared.  She jumped up from her chair and said, "yes, a hug is exactly what I needed."  Although this never happens - I stopped hugging first.  I realized how very much she really needed this hug.  And now she has the flowers to remind her.

Here's the best part.  I didn't set out to make miracles.  I just wanted to make a difference.  To let others know they matter, they are noticed and they belong.  I believe are greatest desire is to be part of something greater than ourselves.  To matter - to be heard.  As I listened to each one of them I wanted to acknowledge in my own way that they had been heard.

In the spirit of Christmas and in the spirit of making a difference how will you find the miracles?

Kindness matters.  Just try it!