After completing my 54 Day Rosary Novena jaunt around the house – I felt compelled to begin another when given a small tattered copy of Rosary Novenas to Our Lady (see image below) by a stranger; after sharing my crazy story.  As one who strongly believes in GODCIDENCE (if you ask me there are no coincidences in life especially in spiritual matters), there was no way I was going to ignore this invitation from Our Blessed Mother to spend another month and half in prayer with her! The grace and blessings as I closed on the first 54 days was truly remarkable!!

One of the most miraculous moments came when I went to my bank on November 30 – prepared to beg for leniency with overdrafts I was sure had been incurred after paying an unexpected HUGE house bill and then a creditor unwilling to hold off on their payment for just a few days, withdraw another large amount.  On that last day of the month, sure that things were as bleak as they could be, I sat down in the branch manager’s office of my small town bank, asking her to pull up the account and assess the damage. As she scrolled and scrolled through the account, her face scrunched with confusion.  She found that not only had we NOT bounced any checks but actually had $100 left in the account. I did briefly wondered whose money we’d stole or she’d soon discover a bank error. She didn’t.

IT was truly impossible, improbable and the only possible explanation was of that of a miracle!!  So, like any respectable citizen sitting in a bank office, I began to cry!  I wept and shared all about my rosary prayers, the4 Fidelity trucks passing as I prayed the Memorare prayer earlier in the month when she and I were on the phone and I learned there was nothing the bank could do to help us over this hurdle.

This miracle may have come from a place of great trust – but it wasn’t the only thing at work that month.   AS a disclaimer: I am well aware, lots of people trust God and pray, yet things don’t work out according to their wishes. That fact is one of my greatest sources of anxiety.  However, I am so grateful, truly grateful to God, that this one did.  It was not exactly what I would have willed – the LOTTERY might have been more in line — but having a second chance and no bank charges occurred was certainly an acceptable resolution.

WHAT ONE LEARNS AFTER A MIRACLE (OR 2)

There was much more to this miraculous outcome – much more.  At the beginning the month the Sunday Mass Readings focused on the Widow’s Mite and the Widow of Zarephath, who trusted in God’s providence so completely.  The Widow of Zarephath made Elijah a cake with the remaining ingredients in her cupboard yet as Elijah promised she and her son (and Elijah too) NEVER went hungry.  The Homily reminded us God never forgets you and your anxieties.  We are to give of our poverty and from our need not just our access then trust God to bless and provide for us.

I went home that Sunday morning and took the 2 Church related bills from the bottom of the ‘to be paid’ pile and paid them immediately.  I was convicted that what had been spoken would be fulfilled.  I do believe in miracles. i do believe God keeps His promises.  God is not distant or unaware; we merely need to pray, hope and believe – we’ll never be abandoned or left unprovided for.