Miracles & What Matters

It’s Christmas Eve, and while you just received a letter from me today, here I am again, writing to you. Honestly, nothing ever feels real to me until I’ve written it down. Writing is how I think through my thoughts, so here I am, sifting, searching for how all of this will work out for the best.

I truly believe it will. I believe everything happens for a reason, though my curious mind always wants to know *why*. And yet, life has taught me that sometimes, there isn’t a clear “why”—just lessons to discover in the moment.

Last night, after a lovely but uneventful family dinner with my three children, I decided to end my hectic day with a long, relaxing bath. I filled the tub with salts and bubbles, put one leg in, and—brrr—it was cold! Thinking I’d turned the wrong lever, I drained some water to add more hot. But to my surprise, the hot water wasn’t hot.

I washed my face, texted the appropriate people, and hoped they’d see it first thing in the morning. When morning came, my builder was on his way to fix the hot water heater. I decided to check the stove, just in case, and guess what? No flame. No gas.

Long story short, sometimes no matter how many precautions or failsafes you have in place, things just fail. Days later, we were still without gas, without hot water, and without a functioning stove or oven.

On Christmas Eve, as we headed to church, my children asked what we’d do for dinner. I told them I wanted *solutions*, not problems. When we returned from the service, I didn’t find the miracle of a full tank of gas, the answer to my prayers. Instead, I found something even better: another kind of gift.

While I’d been saving seats and praying for a miracle, my children had gone out and bought a rotisserie chicken and twice-baked potatoes. We came home to a room-temperature chicken, a fresh salad, and potatoes warmed in the microwave. And you know what? We feasted on *solutions*—as we so often do.

I am beyond grateful for my children, for their resourcefulness and perspective. They know what matters and what doesn’t. It’s been days without hot showers, warm baths, or gas for cooking, and I haven’t heard a single complaint. There have been moments when I felt overwhelmed, but I’ve realized something: sometimes, God—or the universe, or whoever you pray to—gives you exactly what you need, not what you think you want.

This Christmas, all I needed was what I’ve always truly needed: the love of my children. I prayed for gas, thinking it was essential, but living without it has shown me just how much we already have.

To sit in my beautiful home, surrounded by gifts and loved ones, and complain about a lack of hot water or a working stove would be ridiculous. Mary didn’t have any of this when she brought the King of Kings into the world.

For years, I’ve focused on the miracle of the Nativity, but this year I’m seeing another part of the story—the lessons in the details. Mary and Joseph didn’t have comfort or convenience, but they had what mattered most.

The true miracle of Christmas is realizing what you already have. It’s recognizing the gifts that have been with you all along and treating them with the love and gratitude they deserve.

Wishing you all the blessings of this beautiful season and a open heart to welcome the New Year.

xx Christina