Divine Goodness

Over the last year many miracles have happened in my life on large and small scales. More often than not, my prayers are answered in ways that are not quite miraculous as we would expect. Like tonight, I had an amazingly busy day with an equally busy night, with the climax being a three hour parent teacher event.

This morning when I reluctantly woke up knowing what was ahead of me, I pleaded with God to please help me just get through today. Well, I got through it. I was relieved by a helpful coworker so I could catch the train, which I missed the first one, got on the second one which arrived six seconds after the first (not usual for NYC), got a seat, and arrived at my daughter's school even before she did. Each teacher had amazing things to say about my beautiful 11 year old. The train home arrived just as we got to the station and my Mother was waiting at home with my bathed and fed 18 month old! When I got home I had renewed energy and was able to clean the kitchen, get the children ready for bed and write this post. On most nights I am exhausted when I turn the key. I write all this to say, that Divine goodness is not always shown by removing obstacles in our path, but rather sometimes it helps us navigate the path, create a new path or giving us enough energy to walk the path.

I am Fortunate, are you?

Tomorrow the Oprah Show will focus on the new faces of the recession. Having seen these faces, and realizing how very much they look like me or my family members and close friends; I have started to reexamine the meeting of fortunate. Many times we believe that to be fortunate we have to have won the lottery, met that amazing partner, or fulfilled some life long desire. Fortunate in this day and time takes on a how different meaning from what we have grown accustomed. Ask your friends what they are fortunate for these days and listen to their responses. You will realize that the answers are closer to the true meaning of fortunate than ever before. We are all thankful these days just at the receiving of some unexpected good which was not dependent on our own skill or efforts; and this is the true definition of Fortunate. Pay attention to all the little ways we have been fortunate today!