Everyday Miracles is a very personal column for readers who want to explore the deeper meaning of life.
Albert Einstein said, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
I prefer the latter — that everything is a miracle. And back in 2014, when I started writing this column, I coined the phrase “everyday miracles” to explain those light bulb moments that are sparked by an acute split-second awareness that something bigger is going on. The light of a journey can change in an instant.
Sometimes an everyday miracle manifests so simply as getting an up-front parking space for the third time in one day (knowing that you must be divinely aligned for such good fortune to happen all in a day) (and yes this happened to me). Other times an everyday miracle displays more elaborately, a connecting of the dots deep in your psyche for things to all make sense.
Here’s one of those everyday miracles for me, the kind I experience most often, and in this case the miracles came one after another. One morning last year my husband, Norm, and I were having an ardent discussion about something simple I believed to be true and that he did not. Instead of going down the same verbal path I usually do, where I try to make my point 50 different ways with my voice volume and blood pressure rising each time, I was moved so abruptly to stop talking after spilling out point number two.
The clock was ticking towards a scheduled appointment I had so I knew there would not be enough time to flush this one out fully with my now-defensive-posturing husband. My default method of verbal reasoning would have to be cut short. I only had time to quickly summarize with, “We’ll finish discussing this later,” as I headed towards the door.
“…justice that comes this way, when you do the right thing, is much sweeter than vindication won from a hard fought argument…”
The everyday miracle came later that evening when Norm arrived home from work saying, “Honey, I’m sorry. You were right. I had time to think about it, and you were totally right.”
Where’s the everyday miracle here? That I won the argument? That my husband caved? No. The everyday miracle was that I was forced to trust that God would work out the details that day hoping the truth would be known — that Norm would realize the reality of the situation without me having to force it down his throat.
Dare I say, vindication, or rather justice that comes this way, when you do the right thing (in this case making my point once — or twice — kindly) is much sweeter than vindication won from a hard fought argument.
Calm seas are so much more inviting.
The moment my husband uttered those words of agreement I was taken aback in amazement at what I was witnessing. The warmth in his voice admitting I was right came so willingly, and not because I bullied him into believing the truth of the situation. The next everyday miracle for me was realizing how altering my default behavior can have life changing results. The third miracle was realizing I had help.
Looking back, it may have been the knowledge of the appointment I had to rush off to that made me stop talking, but upon further reflection I see it was God who supernaturally closed my mouth as my words were falling on deaf ears for the second time. Default Genevieve would have been spouting off point number three, four, and five as she walked out the door, then shouting points five, six and seven out the car window while rolling out the driveway.
Instead, a supernaturally-transformed-me (I realized later) walked out the door with a quick peck to Norms scruffy cheek and a silent goodbye. I decided a while ago that ruining my day grumbling about not getting to finish making my point is simply not an option for me. I had no choice on this day but to trust that God would work it all out that afternoon. I would not let petty unsettled moments dictate the decorum of my day.
I will admit this surrendered attitude takes a strong conscious effort on my part as I give in to trusting that there is something bigger at work here — that the timing of the kitchen discussion butted up against my having to leave for an appointment was not by chance.
You must know though as I as stepped out the door mustering up that kiss, with that better behavior taking hold, my flesh festered at not having time to finish my 48 points. It was a momentary battle of wills: old me (ego-driven insecure self) confused and tripping over what was taking hold of my heart, while this new “spiritually evolving”me was being tickled by the calm and lower vibration of how this discussion was playing out. Like I said, something else was dictating my behavior during those late morning moments, something I’d later realize was the behind-the-scenes workings of an everyday miracle playing out.
We have a much better view when we sail through the light, instead of the dark.
A lot of my everyday miracles this past year were similar to this one: reflections on the state of my heart and my mind with nuggets of wisdom flowing forth later. I’ve learned over time that the catalyst to receiving these lessons is the surrendering of my will to God and letting the almighty ruler of the universe take control of me. This omniscient life force, God, promises me hell do a better job of directing my steps than I will if I just let him.
I hadn’t prayed for any particular guidance from the Lord that morning, but the theme of my prayers during that season in my life was for God to watch my mouth and to help me put a cover on it when I begin down a potentially destructive path. I still pray that prayer as I fall back on this one a lot. However, thankfully my journey is definitely one of two steps forward, one step back.
Another everyday miracle for me played out when my spiritual mentor, Joyce Meyer, quoted this truth in a podcast sermon of hers that I was listening to, revealing just what I needed to hear at just the right moment. “It is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, then to suffer for doing wrong.” This universal truth comes from 1 Peter 3:17 in the Bible. Chew on that for awhile.
What kind of everyday miracles are you experiencing? What do you believe allows them to happen or not happen? I want to hear from you.
Please share your thoughts in the comments below. Thank you for reading and God bless you.
About the Author
Genevieve Schmitt is the founder of WomenRidersNow.com. She was raised in a strict Catholic household, but in college the journalist in her starting asking questions of organized religion. By age 30 she developed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and since then works daily to surrender her stubborn will and vain ego to allow the Holy Spirit to guide her life. She now considers herself a non-denominational Christian. In the summer of 2014, with guidance from God, she started expressing her faith journey in this column, Genevieves Everyday Miracles. Feedback from WRN readers has been overwhelming positive proving that people crave so much more.
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Hi Genevieve, I am not a religious person and probably be caught somewhere in between in term of beliefs. Let me just share what I think. As we walk our path and as time passes by and we experience and face different situations in life we transform ourselves from the older us, from the ego-driven insecure self where we need and have to explain everything, into a more sharing and understanding person of the people and the energy that surround us. And this energy then flows naturally enabling a better balance around us, and better balance with the ones around us through words—sometimes less words needed?Reading your article made me think about what are my everyday miracles. I believe we all have them one way or another, it is just a matter of bringing them to light, to our hearts and mind so the others can benefit too. Thanks for your article.
Thanks for your thoughts and illustration Carolina. I pray that you as you evolve you realize the source of this love within you: the almighty God of the heavens and of the earth, the same God who created you. It’s not about being religious—for certainly I am not—it’s about creating an everlasting relationship with the God who created us to be on this earth to share and spread his unconditional love. God bless you!
I really enjoyed this personal reflection and can relate to it on many levels. There is a lot of inspiration in your message. Thank you for sharing this everyday miracle!
Genevieve, as always, great article.A few years ago while going through a divorce, the death of my parents, etc. etc. I started getting serious about waking up each day and thanking the Lord for what I had and not what I was missing. I realized that the power of a small prayer of thanks every day had an enormous affect on my attitude and how I accepted and dealt with everyday issues. I have come to believe that we are where we are because that is where we are supposed to be at that moment. The power is believing that He will guide us and that He will only allow us to carry what we can carry. We just need to have faith. I printed out a pix that was posted recently and the saying is “Let your angels guide you for they know the way.” I framed that pix and it is hanging where I have to see it every day to remind me to have faith that whatever happens today is meant to be. I have to work hard at this because I am a control freak. As I get older I understand more that I don’t always have to be right. I don’t have to control every situation and I don’t have to control everyone around me. I just need to be that best person I can be that day and have faith that the Lord will guide me and that He will carry me when I am weak.
Giving up control and giving it to God. Let it go. That is a huge lesson, a difficult one to learn. I am still learning that one. It feels wonderful when letting it go to God. Doing it takes me many calming breaths. It all works in the end.Thank you for the reminder that I’m not the only one struggling with this lesson. Oh, you raise your vibration when you choose to let it go to God, not lower. Maybe you were thinking or feeling heart rate, lol. Have fun out there and be safe.
Spurz,Thanks for your thoughtful feedback. Yes, I was referencing the earthly vibration of the situation, i.e. tenseness of the situation. But you are right. From a spiritual standpoint, when we do surrender and give up control to God, our vibration rises on a spiritual level. Thanks for pointing that out.
Great article and reflection! I will especially keep this line in mind the next time I want to keep going with my points in a discussion: “I see it was God who supernaturally closed my mouth as my words were falling on deaf ears for the second time.”Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi Genevieve, I am not a religious person and probably be caught somewhere in between in term of beliefs. Let me just share what I think. As we walk our path and as time passes by and we experience and face different situations in life we transform ourselves from the older us, from the ego-driven insecure self where we need and have to explain everything, into a more sharing and understanding person of the people and the energy that surround us. And this energy then flows naturally enabling a better balance around us, and better balance with the ones around us through words—sometimes less words needed?Reading your article made me think about what are my everyday miracles. I believe we all have them one way or another, it is just a matter of bringing them to light, to our hearts and mind so the others can benefit too. Thanks for your article.
Thanks for your thoughts and illustration Carolina. I pray that you as you evolve you realize the source of this love within you: the almighty God of the heavens and of the earth, the same God who created you. It’s not about being religious—for certainly I am not—it’s about creating an everlasting relationship with the God who created us to be on this earth to share and spread his unconditional love. God bless you!
I really enjoyed this personal reflection and can relate to it on many levels. There is a lot of inspiration in your message. Thank you for sharing this everyday miracle!
You are so welcome, Teri. Thanks for your feedback. All the best to you my friend.
Genevieve, as always, great article.A few years ago while going through a divorce, the death of my parents, etc. etc. I started getting serious about waking up each day and thanking the Lord for what I had and not what I was missing. I realized that the power of a small prayer of thanks every day had an enormous affect on my attitude and how I accepted and dealt with everyday issues. I have come to believe that we are where we are because that is where we are supposed to be at that moment. The power is believing that He will guide us and that He will only allow us to carry what we can carry. We just need to have faith. I printed out a pix that was posted recently and the saying is “Let your angels guide you for they know the way.” I framed that pix and it is hanging where I have to see it every day to remind me to have faith that whatever happens today is meant to be. I have to work hard at this because I am a control freak. As I get older I understand more that I don’t always have to be right. I don’t have to control every situation and I don’t have to control everyone around me. I just need to be that best person I can be that day and have faith that the Lord will guide me and that He will carry me when I am weak.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Denise. I love this! Our readers will benefit from reading this. All the best to you.
Giving up control and giving it to God. Let it go. That is a huge lesson, a difficult one to learn. I am still learning that one. It feels wonderful when letting it go to God. Doing it takes me many calming breaths. It all works in the end.Thank you for the reminder that I’m not the only one struggling with this lesson. Oh, you raise your vibration when you choose to let it go to God, not lower. Maybe you were thinking or feeling heart rate, lol. Have fun out there and be safe.
Spurz,Thanks for your thoughtful feedback. Yes, I was referencing the earthly vibration of the situation, i.e. tenseness of the situation. But you are right. From a spiritual standpoint, when we do surrender and give up control to God, our vibration rises on a spiritual level. Thanks for pointing that out.
Great article and reflection! I will especially keep this line in mind the next time I want to keep going with my points in a discussion: “I see it was God who supernaturally closed my mouth as my words were falling on deaf ears for the second time.”Thanks for the inspiration!