Albert Einstein is credited for saying, “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 wonder how many of us have fallen into the former category, missing the miracles around us each day. We are too busy, stressed, overwhelmed, distracted, living life at 200 mph and the miracle moments of our days go by in such a blur that we don't even see them. Imagine how different we would be – how grateful and joyful – if we stopped to capture those miracle moments.
If we collected them all throughout our children's childhood, what an amazing bank of memories we would have. If we gathered them throughout our marriage, what a strong bond we would create. If we captured miracle moments every day, with the intention that a child collects dandelions from the yard, what a beautiful life we would live.
I'm ready to live more fully. I'm ready to capture my miracle moments. If you'd like to join me, here are some ideas to get us started on our journey.
Start the Day with Intention
We need to set our focus anew each and every morning before we start our day. Begin with a verbal affirmation. “My miracle awaits.” Repeat this mantra as often as needed throughout the day. Visual reminders are helpful, so put them wherever you frequently go. To live life with your eyes and heart open, we have to change our daily habits. Intention, mantras and reminders help us stay focused on our new goal.
Notice the Miracles You Encounter
The little one who comes to your bed for a cuddle is a miracle. The morning sun shining in your window is a miracle. The friend who offers you an encouraging word is a miracle. If we really look, we will notice that we encounter many miracles in our ordinary days and noticing will cultivate gratitude. The gratitude and the miracle-capturing, they enforce one another.
Start the Day with Intention
We need to set our focus anew each and every morning before we start our day. Begin with a verbal affirmation. “My miracle awaits.” Repeat this mantra as often as needed throughout the day. Visual reminders are helpful, so put them wherever you frequently go. To live life with your eyes and heart open, we have to change our daily habits. Intention, mantras and reminders help us stay focused on our new goal.
Notice the Miracles You Encounter
The little one who comes to your bed for a cuddle is a miracle. The morning sun shining in your window is a miracle. The friend who offers you an encouraging word is a miracle. If we really look, we will notice that we encounter many miracles in our ordinary days and noticing will cultivate gratitude. The gratitude and the miracle-capturing, they enforce one another.
Keep a Record
Once you notice it, capture it. I'm a journal keeper, but maybe you'll choose a miracle jar or photography. In whatever way you choose, keep a record of your miracle moments. Not only will these be a treasure to look back on, but as we collect these moments, we will put together the picture of the rich and marvelous life we are living – captured right there in writing or photos for all the world to see. “Hey! Look at my miracles!”
Share Your Miracle Moments
By sharing yours, you will inspire others to begin noticing their own. Sharing this kind of inspiration – this gratitude and joy at the beauty and amazement of parenthood, of friendship, of marriage, of life – is a gift to those around you.
May Your Days Be Filled With Miracle Moments
Particularly, so often, we get caught up in the difficulties and exhaustion of parenting. The miracles that we used to so readily see become lost. It's easy for us to see the miracle of our first newborn baby as we silently rock him in the night, but when you're surrounded by 2, 3, or more children, changing diapers, cooking meals, wiping noses, running from here to there, rounding up, tucking in, it starts to get harder to see the miracles through our tired and sometimes teary eyes. This is why we must be intentional about seeing them, not as difficulty to endure or another chore to manage, but as our own everyday miracles. Every bedtime story, every flower picked for you, every hug around your neck, these are miracle moments worth celebrating.
May your days be filled with miracle moments.