Friday, December 23, 2011

My Answer



My friend J asked two questions about miracles at the end of today's post. Here's my answer


We all experience big moments that thrill us to the very marrow—births, weddings, reunions, reconciliations. It's the little moments however, the ordinary, ho-hum, didn’t-see-them-because-we-weren’t-looking miracles that make up our days. Here are a few of my favorites:


*Silence, broken by bird song or a child's laughter.

*Being kissed by a kitten. Or a child, a sweetheart, an old friend, a puppy (or a sunbeam).

*Finding money in my pocket unexpectedly.

*The first glimpse of a harvest moon hanging above the horizon like a glowing Japanese lantern, or walking along a silver moonpath on a snowbound night.

*Getting all green lights.

*Hearing a voice warm with love on the other end of the telephone line.

*Climbing between sheets that have been hung on a line to dry. It’s like falling asleep out of doors in the sun and wind. In fact, crawling into bed when I’m exhausted is such a marvelous moment that I try to stay awake long enough to relish its comfort.

*Opening a new book. Reading an old favorite. Making my own books. There’s an immense satisfaction that comes from making things from scratch.

*Feeling the weight of my grandchildren as they fall asleep against me. There is nothing more endearing than the faith of a child and nothing more rewarding than knowing you are trusted completely.

*Wearing my favorite sweater. The sleeves are stretched, the shoulders have been stitched and re-stitched and the color is faded from countless washings, but it is still the first thing I reach for when I’m chilly or in need of comfort.

*Facing a blank piece of paper. What better way to illustrate unlimited potential?

*Being the recipient AND the perpetrator of small kindnesses.

*Hugs.

*Dawn…not such a little moment, perhaps, seeing as it banishes night and gives us a new day every single time, but so often we miss it in our hurry to be doing instead of being. I want to be in that first blush of light when the morning is fresh and the world holds its breath. I want to be kissed awake by that first sunbeam.  

What are yours?

13 comments:

Brian Miller said...

smiles...some beautiful miracles you got there...i like those...

merry christmas pauline!

Hilary said...

As the late great Dan Fogelberg said "There's a Magic every moment. There's a Miracle each day" and you sure have illustrated that beautifully here.

Tabor said...

love your magic moments...all of them special. Some I might add are the smell of daffodils in the spring, a lovely favorite song heard while cleaning house, a small rabbit in the yard trusting you to go close.

Out on the prairie said...

Some lovely thoughts to share today. Happy holidays!

Barbara said...

I want to say ditto - ditto - ditto. For me it is miraculous to make beautiful music or to make something from nothing, like these little boxes. I am delighted every time I finish another one and then must think of some little trinket to put inside.

Brian Hayes said...

:::blink:::
there's a meteor
:::blink:::
there's a meteor
:::blink:::
there's a meteor

Judith said...

Absolutely gorgeous. And I love them all.
Especially the hugs.
And the green lights.
;-)

Reya Mellicker said...

I agree that miracles are ongoing. You just have to pay attention which you absolutely do!

Roberta S said...

These are indeed the most special of all miracles. Every one, although for me, Pauline, sometimes a blank sheet of paper --does not render up front the possibilities you see.

But the rest are right on, particularly the grandchildren, and the cool and hugging sensation of bed sheets dried out of doors.

Guess there's as much to a scent as to a song, because the other 'miracle' I love, which at the moment strikes me as rather odd and funny, is when Hub puts on Old Spice aftershave. It may be man-made, even superficial but I love the smell of Old Spice. Always have, always will.

Friko said...

This list in itself is miraculous.
How very right you are, each of these ittle miracles is what makes life bearable on the other days, when the sun doesn't shine (metaphorically and realistically.

Happy 2012 to you, Pauline.

Claudya Martinez said...

I love finding money in a pocket, or going to call my husband and as I pick up the phone it rings because he is calling me. Today I got baby kisses and they were superb.

red dirt girl said...

Hugs. Definitely hugs. Can never have too many.

Happy New Year!
xxx

Steve Reed said...

My first sip of coffee in the silence of the early morning is always one of my favorite moments. I love line-dried sheets, too. So many people seem to want fabric softener and a tumble dryer, and I do NOT understand that! Give me line drying any day.