“I am not embarrassed 
to tell you that I 
believe in miracles.” 
Corazon Aquino

One might wonder what, exactly, is a miracle. Simply put, a miracle is a wonderful, amazing, unexpected occurrence. The word is derived from the Latin word miraculum, which means “object of wonder.” Given this definition, I have little doubt that some of my elementary school teachers must have thought of me as a miracle! 

A more compelling definition might be that a miracle is an event that is inexplicable by nature or scientific laws and, accordingly, gets attributed to some supernatural or preternatural cause. Perhaps this is why Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw claimed that “life itself is the miracle of miracles.”

My personal feelings about miracles are consistent with those expressed by former Philippines President Corazon Aquino in the quote above. I have no problem admitting that I believe in miracles. I have experienced far too many in my lifetime to think otherwise. In fact, the frequency with which I have experienced miracles in my life has led me to adopt the mindset of Canadian educator Laurence J. Peter, who said, “Don’t believe in miracles — depend on them.”

I cannot tell you how or why miracles occur, only that they do. I recall noticing a friend’s guitar case when I was in high school. It had a sticker affixed to it that read: Expect a Miracle. Only in retrospect do I understand the power of this brief statement. In fact, I believe that being open to the possibility of miracles is the only way to truly experience them. English poet William Blake stated, “The person who does not believe in miracles surely makes it certain that he or she will never take part in one.”

I don’t consider miracles to be magic. Rather, I see them as undeserved God-given gifts. They seem to happen at random times, which, in retrospect, often proves to be the perfect time. What’s important is that we be open to receiving them and acknowledging them for what they are. Perhaps this helps to explain my passion for gratitude. It takes discipline and mindfulness to consistently see and experience the world through the lens of gratitude. Despite the inevitable challenges of day to day living, there is so much for which to be grateful. 

It is also important for us to recognize that we can be miracles for others, as we assist and enable them to deal with situations or achieve goals with which they have been struggling. 

Albert Einstein acknowledged that we have a choice in this matter. He wrote, “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.”