A Specific Miracle for Christmas

It was the holiday season of 1984 and I was unemployed as a practical nurse. Instead of shopping and getting ready for the holidays, I found myself on the unemployment line, signing up for a cycle of checks that I would not receive until after the New Year. I racked my brain for a way to catch up on bills and provide my 10-year-old son and myself with Christmas dinner. Recently divorced, I sold my wedding rings to pay for food, car insurance, and an overdue phone bill. Now I had nothing left to sell and there were no job prospects on the horizon.

Spiraling into a deep depression, my very soul ached with despair. I felt empty from the loss of my job and the failure of my marriage. My son, Shawn, was the only reason I had for living. The love that I felt for my child surpassed everything else.

One day, after a long wait at the employment office, I decided to go to a nearby nature trail where I could walk in the brisk winter air and receive inspiration. During my walk it became clear to me that I needed divine intervention. I desperately needed a miracle and it had to happen very soon.

That night, as I was getting ready for bed, I thought about how I had done everything possible to remedy the situation and I knew that my worries would have to rest in God’s hands. I fell down on my knees beside the bed and sobbed. Suddenly, I heard a small voice speak to me.

“You have not because you ask not,” the voice said.

I sat down on my bed, shaken by the intensity of this message.

“Okay God,” I said. “I’m asking you to help me. Please just help me," I said, again breaking down in tears.

“Be specific.” The voice replied firmly.

I closed my eyes for a moment. My electric bill was $58 dollars and my rent was $150. I needed at least $208 to get caught up on my bills, but I also needed to buy groceries.

“Please send $250,” I whispered, knowing the additional $42 dollars would put food on the table until my first check arrived after the holidays.

For a fleeting moment there seemed to be a perfect stillness in the air and the world seemed totally quiet, as though some divine entity had caught my prayer and flung it higher into the heavens for consideration. I felt a warm and wonderful peace descend upon my heart and the worry lifted. Exhausted, I placed my head on the pillow and immediately fell sleep.

The following morning, Shawn and I decorated the Christmas tree and I placed brightly wrapped gifts under the branches. One of the presents was a wrist watch with a second-hand timer while another present was a lovely volume of "The Chronicles of Narnia." I had purchased these things in late July, tucking them away for Christmas.

Although Shawn was only 10 years old, he was very wise and understood the true meaning of Christmas. There had never been any selfishness in his heart and he was always grateful for whatever we had, making him a true and wonderful blessing in my life. For the remainder of the day we sang Christmas carols and baked cookies, and I felt a total sense of peace and expectation. The atmosphere itself seemed to hum and sparkle as though we stood in the center of an invigorating celestial storm.

Continued on page 2: A white business-sized envelope waited for me... »