Do We Witness Miracles?
Do Miracles Really Happen?
One must define the word miracle to accurately answer the question. So what exactly is a miracle? One definition I found was "1. A surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is considered to be divine." The second way to define the same word was given, "2. A highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment." That is what came up when I searched the words miracle definition. I think most people would tend to agree with those, or a combination of those. So I am going to work with that.
A Big Miracle in My Life
One summer, when I was 14 years old, I was scheduled to have a second surgery on my spine for sever scoliosis. I had had one when I was ten years old. There was an "S" shaped curve in my spine, and to correct both of the curves would have resulted in a pretty short torso as I was still growing.
The hope was, that my first surgery would be sufficient and that my back might not get worse or even straighten out. I was about to enter high school, and my back had gotten much worse. To not correct it would have been a bad thing for my health, never mind a very curved spine. We had the surgery scheduled with my wonderful doctor who I really loved. My mom and I cried on the way home that day, it was a very sad day.
She says to me later, do you want to have someone pray for you? I said sure I would. I believed in God and Jesus. I knew all the stories and I am a believer. Why not pray, why be so upset and not consider that? We did it. It was quiet, only 3 people. That was that.
We went to visit the doctor once more before my surgery. They took an x-ray of my back again. The doctor was given the x rays after they were processed. He put them up on the screen and looked confused. He became frustrated and said to the nurses to get the correct x-rays and told us there may have been a mistake and that we may need to take more.
They were the correct x-rays, and my back was straight. In a very short amount of time, the spine curved enough to need a second metal rod put in, was straight, and no need for surgery. My Mom told the doctor we had prayed. He looked at us and said, "It looks like your prayers are answered." I have never needed that surgery, and it is almost 30 years later. I call that a miracle.
Other Miracles
I have since prayed for other miracles. I have seen answers to those prayers too, though a true skeptic surely could come up with other alternatives so as to rule out the miracle being possible. My baby boy was on his way to visit the doctor, it was the visit to make the date for his ear surgery to put tubes in. He had had so many ear infections, and it was time to take more drastic measures.
On the way there, the bold thought occurred to me to pray, and I don't mean that the surgery would go well, and that being "put under" wouldn't harm my baby. I just prayed, "Dear God, please heal my son, and help them to have to cancel this surgery. Make his ear like new." That is what turned out to be the case less than a half hour later. No surgery, never did need it. I call that a miracle. How could I not?
There are more, like my Step Dad's tumors that were metastasizing in his brain, or my Dad that I prayed would live a bit longer after I flew into California so I could be there for his death as they took out the breathing tube, etc. I prayed hard, with faith. The exact things I prayed for, happened. I call those miracles.
Don't get me wrong, I am a firm believer in Medicine and Science as well, and think it is always wise to follow a doctor's orders when you need help.
So those are a few of the stories, and there are more. The question could be raised, so why don't I pray more? It is a good question, and when I think about it, and then I do.
Sweetest Prayers for a very sick and dying dog
My boys and I prayed for my dog, who was expected to die before we could get to the vet, after one call. I tell the story in another hub in more detail, but the short of it, is she is still alive now. Severe poisoning and blood loss, sure to die. I was so sad, and we were moving within a day or two. They said "Mom can we pray for her?" I cringed.... I knew she was dying and that it was very bad. Their hearts would be broken. Then I remembered everything else.... We prayed, and turned around and is with us to this day. Strange, huh?
Is there a God, and does he care? Does he respond to prayers prayed from a sincere heart and with strong faith? Am I too bold, to just ask for things to be turned around from the course they are obviously on, and to say, "Thank you, in advance?" You tell me.
I am so glad to have seen this question posed, and thought I will try to answer it with some of what we experienced. Open to people sharing their thoughts below.
