Small Miracles: Extraordinary Coincidences from Everyday Life
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What this book is all about...
May 5, 2000...a small book landed on my arms. My brother’s girlfriend had thoughtfully given me a birthday gift. It was this book -- Small Miracles! I excitedly read the sixty true stories contained in it and relished in the fact that coincidences does happen a lot in our lives.
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Small Miracles II
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Small Miracles: Extraordinary Coincidences from Everyday Life
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Small Miracles Of Love & Friendship: Remarkable Coincidences of Warmth and Devotion
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Small Miracles for Women: Extraordinary Coincidences of Heart and Spirit (Small Miracles (Adams Media))
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Small Miracles For The Jewish Heart: Extraordinary Coincidences from Yesterday and Today
Price: $3.45
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Small Miracles of the Holocaust: Extraordinary Coincidences of Faith, Hope, and Survival
Price: $8.55
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You could actually be involved in a series of events and quite easily dismiss it as pure “luck”, “fluke”, “chance happenings” or “twist of fate.” Or you could see it as a blessing and perhaps feel God’s hand at work. But the remarkable thing is that once you have opened your eyes wide enough to see with your heart, they just come. Blessings found in answers that you were seeking, solutions to challenges, unexpected help, new found friendships and closing the gap between families and loved ones. Suddenly, your world is illuminated with light and you gasp with awe for everywhere miracles after miracles abound. They are not even big ones but little, tiny, small ones. Yet the greatest blessing comes from the knowing that all is well along with the feelings of love, hope, joy and peace.
This gift prodded me to buy Small Miracles II: Heartwarming Gifts of Extraordinary Coincidences. I also began to share these stories during our growth sessions with our teachers in our preschool. Eight years later, I still find myself sharing them as excitedly as I had done a few years ago.
Coincidence?
Some of the small miracles...in summary
1. Walking in a dimly lit street one night, a man heard muffled screams coming from behind the bushes. A rapist was at work. Torn between fear and risking his own life to help this unknown woman, he took the latter. He jumped upon the attacker and wrestled with him until he ran and escaped.
He could hear the girl sobbing so he tried to reassure her saying, "you're safe now." Suddenly out from the bushes, the words came in amazement, "Dad, is that you?" It was his youngest daughter, Katherine.
2. Trisha had picked up a stray cat in the school's courtyard, fallen in love with it and had begged her father to let her keep him. His father detested the cat intensely and finally he succumbed to his daughter's pleas esp. when she said that he just came up to her and rubbed against her in affection. "We connect Dad." But one time when the cat made the mistake of creating a mess in the dining room, he ordered for the cat to be removed from the house the following day!
Late that night, Trisha was startled from sleep when the cat hurled his body onto the bed and began to make hissing, angry sounds. Trisha tried to fend him off, but he kept returning. Finally she stood up and and climbed into her sister's bed on the other side of the room. Just then, an earthquake occured. And a huge drawer toppled across the bed where only seconds before Trisha had been sleeping. It was the Northridge California earthquake of 1994. And the plain old alley cat had saved her life. Yes, the cat became a permanent member of the family after that.
3. Every sunday morning at exactly 9 a.m., twenty members of a Southern Baptist congregation church choir would assemble in a chapel for a one hour rehearsal before their services. The members were devoted and extremely punctual.
One day, sirens pierced the morning air as the residents rushed to see the chapel in flames. It was ten minutes past nine. They shook their heads mournfully as they realized that none of the choir members could have gotten out in time. The fire had happened too fast.
Still paralyzed with shock, people didn't notice the arrival of twenty automobiles pulling into the church's parking lot. Twenty red-frocked figures were running towards the church. Until the townspeople saw in astonishment at this miraculous sight. They were alive!!! For the first time in twenty years of ongoing choir practice, every single one of the choir members--for separate and unconnected reasons-had arrived late.
Small Miracles Series
Small Miracles: Extraordinary Coincidences from Everyday Life (1997)
Small Miracles II: Heartwarming Gifts of Extraordinary Coincidences (1998)
Small Miracles of Love and Friendship: Remarkable Coincidences of Warmth and Devotion (1999)
Small Miracles for Women: Extraordinary Coincidences of Heart and Spirit (2000)
Small Miracles for the Jewish Heart (2002)
Small Miracles for Families: Extraordinary Coincidences that Reaffirm Our Deepest Ties (2003)
Changing Course: Women's inspiring stories of menopause, midlife and moving forward.
(2004)About the Authors
Yitta Halberstam and Judith Leventhal are the bestselling authors of the Small Miracle Series. Out of a deep appreciation for God’s guiding hand through out their lives, they have decided to write this book. Both of their fathers were Holocaust survivors whose lives were saved by strange and mysterious coincidences.
One of their favorite stories in the First Small Miracles book came from the Oprah Winfrey Show’s Valentines Day special of 1996. The story featured an elderly couple who had been married for over 50 years. They wanted to track them down but bemoan the fact that they were unable to.
One evening, Judith was delivering a talk at Barnes and Nobles bookstore in Queens when during the Q & A portion, someone raised a hand and announced, “Page 129.”
"What?" Judith asked, confused. “You wrote our story on page 129 of your book” the man replied warmly. Guess what? It was the valentines’ couple from the Oprah Winfrey show!
Yitta Halberstam is a writer and lecturer on spirituality whose work has appeared in many magazines, including Parade, New York, Money, and Working Woman. Judith Leventhal is a Gestalt therapist. They both live in Brooklyn, NY.
Albert Einstein once said...
“There are only two positions you can take. Either you believe that nothing in life is a miracle or you believe that everything in life is a miracle.”
I invite you to get a copy of this book to read, share and be inspired and encouraged and just simply be amazed. May you continually recognize the many miracles that come your way. God bless you in your journey.
Michelle Simtoco
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Comments
Michelle! There are many of these type of books around filled with little miracles. I love to read them because somehow they just make you feel good inside. Thanks for sharing.
Great hub kindest regards Zsuzsy
I must admit good things happen .....even to me daily...and your inspiration is one of them....It has become very difficult lately dealing with mom and her Alzheimer...but even on the worst days I come out with more understanding and knowledge and realize God has me here to care for her..Although at times I wonder why? I think I shall get this book today..Thank you my dear sweet lady...G-Ma :o) hugs
" Ask and you shall receive" Think it and it is real if you really believe it no matter what. These are the wondorous gifts we have been given by our creator! Thank you for the wondeful Hub to help people discover this simple truth.
Love your hub Michelle. Albert Einstein was a very smart cookie! You have to decide for yourself how you see the world. I have read many similar books, but I shall definitely seek out these ones now. Thanks, Hope.
Hi dayzeebee, I like that term "good feeling places." Perhaps when we are down and can bring ourselves to good feeling places, I know we'd be able to get through the day!
Zsuzsybee (the two bee's are here hehe), you are so right, there are so many of these type of books everywhere. Goes to show miracles are all around! Regards and smiles.
My dearest G-Ma, caring for somebody isn't an easy task. Sometimes it can be extremely difficult. I hope you find enough inspiration always to carry you through. It's lovely to hear from you always. Hugs.
Hi Linc, and I shall continue..seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened! And so you declare, and so it will be for you as well! Thanks for the comment.
Hi Hope, yes indeed how we view the world entirely depends on each one of us. I have decided to see the world in a much better way. :) And it feels really good!
After you have lived a few years - I have experienced 64 of them so far - you look back on your life and realize that there were far too many coincidences and escapes from near disasters to be just coincidences.
In my case, too many bullets that missed, or grenades that either didn't go off, or went off harmlessly, not to realize that God literally cares for us.
We don't know why He does. Apparently, He just loves His children.
If you don't believe in God, that's your problem - not mine.
Bob
Dear Michelle
Thank you Michelle for always giving us such beautiful blessings of hope, love and faith.
Michelle, you are a big miracle from God!
Kind Regards
Bernard Levine
DiamondRN, I like you. You have spunk! And a great attitude too. LOL Hearing your stories like that, I can envision myself sitting next to you listening to all these wonderful stories. God does love us tremendously. :)
Bernard, it's nice to hear from you. Hope you are doing great nowadays! Thanks for your lovely message. To miracles. Cheers!
Thanks for this hub. Sometimes we need little reminders like this. Even at the darkest hour, there is a miracle just around the corner.
I magree with you rmr.
Hi Robert, hope does uplift us in even little doses. :) Thanks for reading. You too topstuff! :)
This is beautiful and I will get that book, miracles are all around us and we have the chance to be one for someone else. What would happen if no one recognized the promptings we get nor followed them? We can make such a difference if we are tuned in....
Small miracles! Did I catch right that on May 5th a small beautiful miracle was born. If so then we are both Taurean sisters. Pretty cool, huh! But I'll have to go to compu-smart's birthday hubs to see if May 5th is the miraculous day!
O Boy! you could have stopped me, Michelle! The cat has been let out of the bag!!!!! LOL but we are confirmed Taurean sisters!!!! And that's cool!!!
An uplifting hub...thank you. Miracles happen everyday, even when we are unaware, that is why we should be thankfull in all things - at all times.
Great stories. They bring a tear to your eye because of the absolute miracle of it.
Hi marisue, to be tuned in, yes, that's the key...and then wham...there are so many of them-this thing which we call coincidences--a blessed thing that we recognize as miracles! Thanks for your comment! :)
Halooo Sis Dottie, yes I'm a Taurean too :) Now, isn't this a nice "coincidence?" Cool!!! When is your birthday exactly? I was kidding compu-smart that maybe someday I will be included in the list of his famous birthday people. Maybe we both will be. LOL
Hi Ana, to have a grateful heart at all times is the key to live a joyful life. I appreciate you :)
Hi Karen, me too,a tear to the eye and even goosebumps sometimes :) May you have your miracles today and always. :)
Something positive to brighten up the day =)
Halooo back to you Taurean sis! The answer to your question is the 20th!!! Have a wonderful ripilin day!
Nice hub, Ripplemaker. I firmly believe in miracles. I have no choice: they've been happening to me all my life.
So nice, Ripplemaker. I'm a firm believer in the notion that coincidences are simply God's way of remaining anonymous. I love hearing these stories.
Me singing!--->There can be miracles, when you believe though hope is frail, it's hard to kill, who knows what miracles you can achieve When you believe somehow you will you will when you believe.:)
ripplemaker, thank-you for this hub! and sharing some of your stories in miracles! I do believe in miracles, and this whole universe is a miracle to me and everything on it including you, who shares and guides the non believers!
Keep up the good work my angel!:)
I once read a piece in reader's digest about telepathy not being telepathy and a form of subliminal messages that can be retrieved if one digs down deep enough and into the past and despite all the researches and events the author undertook, at the end of the long drawn article he confessed to the presence of events that just couldn't be linked or explained with science ,reason or known metaphysical phenomenons.Personally, I do believe in miracles as much as I believe in science.Great stories!
Every now and again, you stumble upon something heartwarming and meaningful on the web. This hub is just that - beautifully constructed with an important spiritual message. It wrestles us all away from our occupations and material things. Thank you most sincerely ripplemaker.
Hi bluewings! It's always nice to hear from you. Me too...I believe a lot in miracles :)
Hi pjdscott, thank you for your kind words and for your sincerity. I appreciate that a lot. Thank you. :)
Lovely Hub. We both believe in miracles. It is immensely sad that some people cannot see or acknowledge them.
Great post! Great samples from the book! Thanks for sharing! It's very inspiring!
Thank again,
Isn't it cool when these things happen! How often do you think things like this happen to us and we don't notice them? Great hub ripplemaker!
Thanks guys for dropping by and commenting. To many of the miracles in our lives, may they be overflowing for your and your family. :)
Hi ripplemaker,
This hub strengthens my hope and translates my faith into daily bite-size trust that we are never alone in difficult situations. Either we can be an angel to others or others are angels to us (This idea is from one of your hubs, remember.) The strength of your hubs is the hope they offer to your readers. This article inspires me. Thanks.
franciaonline
These sound like wonderful books and I do believe in miracles Ripplemaker! I will be checking these books out of the library today, thanks for the reading tips!
ausmark, wherever you are today, I wish another miracle for you to brighten your way. sunny smiles...
Dottie, your ripplin spirit always refreshes me. You have and continue to be a "miracle" to me. Hehe
Constant Walker, I love how you stated your comment. So much conviction in there. Yeah! :)
Robie, unexpected surprises does lift the heart huh? Me too, I also love hearing these stories. Thanks so much for dropping by and commenting. (I'm still scratching my head why I missed commenting. Hmmm...)
Compu-smart, you are a dear. LOL let's sing that song again-together this time :) As you know it is one of my favorites too! :)
2patricia's, maybe when a heart is ready, it will be able to "see". In the meantime, keep sharing the inspiration. :)
denise, how lovely to feel somebody's excitement. Keep being excited about life's daily miracles. :)
Lifebydesign, yeah, very cool! :) Yesterday a huge fruit fell down from the tree, missing my car by a few inches. Whew! That was a another miracle for me. :) It's always a treasure to see you around.
Hi francia, I just love how you state things. Thanks for gracing my hub with your inspiring thoughts and thoughtful comments. Here's a huge dose of hope coming now LOL let's open our arms and receive it. :)
Sweetie Pie, yes to miracles again and again! And even to making our bucket list come true right? LOL To county fairs and Tahiti! :)
This is so true Ripplemaker! I hope we both can achieve the dreams on our bucket list :).
Right on! :)
Dear Ripplemaker,
thank you for the heart warming stories. I am a surgeon by profession. Like you, I am also trying to heal in other ways, including sharing positive messages and stories about health and life. We're not alone out there.
regards,
Isn't it just lovely to meet kindered souls? Thank you for your heartwarming comment. :) Best regards to you too!
I loved the quote from Einstein. My gosh, if he believes in miracles, then there must be something to them!
When I first learned how to stick shift, I was horrific at it. An old girl friend enticed me to "try and beat the train" at a train crossing not to far from where I went to college.
I stalled out the car in first gear right over the tracks as I saw the headlight of the train bearing down on me.
It was a miracle I got that car out of first gear, and I've lived and loved for 28 more years since then!
Hi ToddieM, isn't it great to know that miracles after miracles just happens daily? :) Thanks for sharing your story. And may you have more years of living and loving ahead of you! :)
This sounds like a great book, Michelle. I just love synchronicity and miracles, they bring our attention to the wonders of life, if we let them.
Thx for bringing this book to our attention, it sounds like something I would really like.
Hi Shirley, I find surprises (as you mentioned synchronicity and miracles) still delights me constantly! :) It kinda makes me want to jump up and down in excitement. Your words "If we let them" is the key to it all. Allow...allow..allow... it will make all the difference in the world. :) I wish you more miracles daily :)
Thank-you, and wish the same for you, P.O. :)
Your most welcome Shirley! P.O. smiles (ear to ear) ! :)
yes!yes!yes!
May 5th is deffiently a miraculous day for Birth;:)!
Hi compu-smart! Indeed that brought us together! Hahaha :)
Michelle, what a beautiful Hub. I see that this series moves you deeply, and that you are a believer, as I, that there is no coincidence, happenstance...everything happens for a reason, whether we undertand the reason or not.
We are connected to the universe in ways we can't imagine, even given the help of masterful minds like Einstein, or the minds of those who are the teachers and guides of faith, or even our own introspective selves. I believe that we live in a soup, of sorts, and I guess that will be a Hub of mine one day!
Thank you so much for this review. I see your heart, mind, and spirit in every word.
Hi Sally, I am touched by your words and deeply grateful to meet another person who shares the same belief as I do. :) Thank you.
A beautiful article. I truly believe in miracles myself. I believe that somehow, everything and everybody in life is somehow connected together.
Love this hub. Very good.
Kiki, it is this connectedness that makes us realize that even if we live in a world that seems so complex and different, we are in essence the same inside. And miracles bring us closer to each other. Thank you so much for dropping by.
Moonlake, thanks! Have a lovely day ahead of you.
Chocked up and smiling. That was a lovely hub!
love & light -p
Thanks Patricia. It is my sincerest wish that all those who read this hub may experience miracles day after day. Love the light of your smile :) Be blessed.
I feel like my cat is partly my angel. He came into my life shortly after my mother had died and always sees to know when I'm feeling down.
Great Hub!
Wow, thanks Susan for sharing that. :)
dayzeebee says:
16 months ago
hello there, i'm real glad you made this hub about the book. the stories of real life events calls out hope, gratitude, joy and love--- good feeling places where miracles of healing can take place. thank you for constantly bringing light into this community. you are a miracle yourself!:)