"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
That was the theme of tonight's Christmas Eve church service. In truth, I wasn't expecting to be moved by the ceremony, but something the pastor said caught my attention. "Tonight's not just about celebrating, it's also about faith," he preached.
Holding an unlit candle, he made this invitation. "Take the candle in front of you, but before you light it, take a moment to ask God what you want for the coming year. When God answers your prayer, write what you asked for and the date on your candle's wax guard and return it."
As he read off people's candles that had been returned in 2010, I sat stunned by thought of all. "Would God really answer my prayers?" I thought. "What if I have more than one?"
Carefully, my mind sorted through the things that mattered most to my heart: my health, my family's happiness, our future, our community. It all seemed too much, too big, too impossible. The final prayer? I asked for three four things:
1) Fulfilling and profitable work for myself and my husband
2) A baby to share our lives with
3) A comforting home in a safe neighborhood
4) Renewed health for me and my family
As I blew out the candle, I couldn't escape the emotion of it. Then, and only then, I realized how much I have given up on faith and the possibility of miracles. So, heart in hand, on this Christmas Eve, I humbly ask: God, give me faith to believe that what I've asked for is possible. Give me faith to believe in miracles.
Altered Today: Asking for help, Faith, the Future
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