My friend, Jennifer Leach, taught me that there are miracles every day.  As the cancerous tumors grew in her body, Jennifer – a mom to two little girls, a faith-filled woman, and a dear Light – showed us all that there are miracles everywhere.  Every single day.  In the most ordinary of time.  In the most tragic of times.  This morning, Jennifer passed away in the quiet of the early morning with family gathered around her.

There are miracles in the most ordinary of days – a tree blooming, a flower finding its way through the dirt into the sunlight, hearing your son say your name, seeing a sunset, watching your daughter climb a tree, smelling dinner cooking, feeling the wind against your skin, drinking cool water.

And there are miracles in the days where things do not go right, when you get bad news, and…even when tragedy strikes.  There are miracles in all the messes – the mess of Legos on the kitchen table (and floor), the mess of dishes left over from last night’s dinner, the mess of going down the same habitual path of reacting to your children and spouse, the mess of figuring out what the “diagnosis means,” the mess of wondering “what to do next.

And last night, as a group of women gathered around Jennifer late into the evening, holding space for Jennifer transitioning into her new life, I looked around.  I looked around at the dear women gathered and I saw how Jennifer had been this miracle.  In her living and her dying, Jennifer was a miracle.  Her light and love has inspired so many people to love, to notice the beauty in our lives, and…to let love in and let it SHINE.  And as I sat there watching one woman holding Jennifer’s hand, another woman rubbing Jennifer’s head, another woman telling stories, and another massaging her legs and feet, I realized the ultimate lesson Jennifer was teaching us:

“WE are the miracles.”

butterflies made by moms and children after Jennifer’s mastectomy. Photo: Chrissy Miller: www.christinamillerphoto.com

WE ARE THE MIRACLES in everyday life:

….when we offer a kind hug, a gentle word of encouragement…and sometimes, no words at all… to our toddler trying to tie his shoes, to a friend sharing that they are going through a rough time with their spouse, when you are holding the hand of someone who is dying, when you are holding the hand of someone who is seeing a loved one die.

…in the most ordinary of moments – getting out the door for school, cheering on your son’s basketball team, in the waiting room at a routine doctor’s appointment, waiting in line at the grocery store, driving to dance class, making dinner – WE can be the miracles blooming and radiating on ordinary days.

…in the most dire of circumstances and tragedy – WE can be the miracles blooming and radiating.  We can be the Divine’s presence.  Just as WHO we are.

We can hold someone’s hand.

We can say, “I am beside you.”

We can look at someone and really SEE them.

We can hug, we can massage, we can just be there.

Jennifer and her two best friends. Photo: tiffanynolesphotography.com

Throughout this week, as Jennifer entered into hospice care at our local hospital, there were “everyday angels” like you and me being miracles.  Some angels offered loving and prayerful presence.  Some cooked.  Some sang.  Some massaged Jennifer’s body.  Some wiped her face.  Some soothed her dry lips with healing balm.  Some prayed over her.  Some just sat with family.

And in Jennifer’s living, dying and birthing into new life, SHE was a miracle – holding space for others to be miracles…to be light…to be presence…to extend kindness and love.

And maybe that’s what we are here for – to notice the miracles in our everyday lives and to BE those miracles on the most ordinary of days, in the most ordinary of moments…as well as in the most difficult of moments when hope seems to be lost.  Maybe we are just to “show up” and BE who we are.  And in being who we are, maybe, just maybe we are “everyday angels being miracles” – for each other and for this world.

Thank you, Jennifer, for your light, for your love.  Thank you for showing us the miracles right here in our everyday lives and how WE can be the miracles – on ordinary days and in the messes.

Photo: tiffanynolesphotography.com

** Dear friends, may you find miracles in the mess – the ordinary, everyday messes and the harder messes.  May you BE the miracle on those ordinary days and in those harder times…just your authentic, loving presence IS the miracle.

**  Jennifer has a light that, if ever met her, you went away with a smile on your face and light in your heart and in your step.  She was a mom to two young girls and a faith-filled woman.  Would you please join me in praying for her family?