Every religion has its miracles. For Christians, the miracle of Christ's life, death, and resurrection; for Jews, the escape from Egypt and manna in the wilderness; for Muslims, the ascension of Mohammed from Jerusalem to Heaven.

And we have our own miracles of love - of family stories of reconciliations, of recoveries that defy medical explanation but are laid to someone's faith. Perhaps in our faith communities we see other miracles of love - the dispossessed made to feel at home, the hungry fed, bonds of understanding and mutual joy forming across cultural and racial differences. And in our society at large we see, again and again, the outpouring of food and clothing and shelter to unknown victims of disaster.

Of course there are glitches - in personal relationships as in international efforts. Others are not always sensitive to our needs - nor are we to theirs. Given that each of us inhabits a unique and private world, maybe it's a miracle that we get along as well as we do. So at this season of celebration and longing, let's raise a glass or an inner hurrah, even in our sadness, for the gifts of love wherever we find them - in strangers, in our loved ones, and in our own hearts as well.

Martha Whitmore Hickman

( I often find myself reaching for this book....it helps me.)