Ordinary Miracles

A 2023 recap, Christmas letter style.

When I think about miracles, I think of things that happened a long time ago to people I’ve never met in places with names I can’t pronounce. At best, I remember them the same way I remember a good book I read and if I’m really honest, my first reaction is to roll my eyes when someone talks about miracles in their own lives. Thinking about this year, though, there’s no way to explain or describe what happened and how we made it through except to say that it’s a miracle.

In his memoir, How To Stay Married (which is phenomenal, by the way), Harrison Scott Key writes “maybe the only people who believe in miracles are the people who have no other option.” I can’t say we had (have?) no other options, but the other options would have likely landed us in jail or rehab or divorce court. Instead, we were nourished and nurtured by family and friends, by therapists and marriage counselors, by spiritual directors and hours in Eucharistic Adoration.

I walked alongside Jeff through a whirlwind (lololol whirlwind is such a cute word for what felt like an actual tornado) of a first year in business. We held onto each other through terrifying unknowns and the joy of watching clients move into their forever homes. The Steele Group team grew and changed and Jeff handled each change with increasing confidence and grace. That we are still building homes at the end of this year is an honest to God miracle. It’s also a testament to Jeff’s leadership and the humility he displayed in asking for support and wise counsel. 

Speaking of bosses, you should hear Lucy order the dogs (and her brother) around. She shines in her role as big sister, teaching and guiding and loving her brother. We are in awe of how she’s growing, in every sense of the word. At the beginning of the summer, Lucy refused to go underwater at our community pool. Despite our best efforts, anytime we asked her if she’d like to jump in she’d politely decline with a gentle but firm “no thank you.” I wish you could have seen her cannonballing into the deep end in August. Between you and me, I think watching her baby brother go first had a little something to do with it. 

An early riser, James races into each day at full speed and is always making us laugh. He adores his favorite lovey—affectionately named Lt. Dan because, thanks to Scout, he “ain’t got no legs”—and his yellow dump truck, loading the former into the bucket of the latter, and pushing it at high speeds around the living room and kitchen. It’s a miracle our ankles and baseboards are still intact. He is as sweet as he is wild, quick with a kiss or a back rub for anyone in need. I think he loves our neighborhood most of all for our “truck safaris” (walks) to look for construction equipment with stops at Jeff’s projects where he and Lucy run wild through the newly framed walls.

And as for me, well, I’m taking it all in, practicing the art of attention each day by letting the dishes sit in the sink for a while longer in favor of playing a game of Uno with Lucy or reading a book to James, snuggled on the couch. I’m learning to practice all the things I preach as a therapist like asking for help and then receiving it. My clients have been some of my clearest guides this year. Their courage and vulnerability never ceases to inspire me. It is a gift I don’t take for granted that they trust me with their stories. Speaking of stories, I’ve also been writing weekly for my Substack publication, Into The Morning, pointing to what’s true, good and beautiful wherever I can.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, I pray that your heart is filled with joy this Christmas. May you experience the tender care of a good and gentle God and see yourself reflected in the eyes of the newborn King, wholly loved, wholly known, wholly celebrated, a living, breathing miracle.

Practice

Before we jump head first into the new year, take some time to reflect on the past year. Is there a word or phrase that defined your year? What moments and memories do you want to hold on to?

Meet me in the comments!

What word or phrase defined your year?