A Time for Miracles

Spring seems to be a special time for miracles. After the cold and desolation of winter, everything comes to life again. We are surrounded by miracles and, yet, we so often don’t stop to appreciate them. Daffodils and tulips are blooming in my garden. Planted in the fall, they are my act of hope each year that I believe spring will come. As winter is just drawing to a close they begin to poke their heads up out of the snow, holding such promise. Then, one day, they begin blooming and it is breathtaking. Each flower is so beautiful. It lives for only a few short days, but God cared enough to put such care into its creation. The same goes for all the other green things that are pushing their way through the earth, reaching up for the sun. My children love to collect the dandelions and present them to me so that I can put them in vases. I did the same thing when I was a little girl. Even the so-called weeds are made by God!

This morning at mass, the children of our parish took part in the crowning of Mary, a special tradition in the month of May. The 2nd graders who made their first communion this weekend were dressed in their special first communion clothes, a symbol of their purity as they received Jesus for the first time. Each child was given a blue carnation which they placed at the feet of a statue of Mary while “Hail, Holy Queen” was sung by the congregation. It was so touching. Each of those children is a gift from God, each one created for a special purpose, each one a walking miracle!

This afternoon, my children were playing with the little girl who lives next door. They were all blowing bubbles and having a wonderful time doing it. I watched the bubbles as they sailed away. The light was streaming through them and making little rainbows. They only lasted a few moments but they brought such delight for that short period of time. We have a God that made rainbows!

It amazes me that anyone can look at creation and not believe in an intelligent, loving God. How could all this be random? From the tiniest part of a cell to the expanses of space, such care was put into creation. So often we are in a hurry. We get caught up in the busyness of life and we walk right by. We get mired in sadness and discouragement. We see all the darkness. But we are surrounded by beauty. Our world is overflowing with miracles! Somehow they are all that much more noticeable in the spring. Each flower, each insect, each sunny day, each time our children laugh playing outside is a reminder to take notice and to thank God. Today is the day to pay attention to the miracles that surround us.