In a previous blog, I shared a story about two miracles the Lord allowed me to photograph. Since we are nearing Christmas, I wanted to share another miracle story that took place Christmas 2001.
I used to make wooden ornaments for each member of my family. When 9/11 occurred, I wanted to make an ornament in memory of all the people who lost their lives.
I believe my ornament may have been divinely inspired because of my extreme passion for making it, not any particular talent.
After mentioning my idea to a friend, she suggested possibly having a national tree in honor of those who lost their lives. I liked the idea and tried to accomplish the task.
I knew I could not get a letter to President Bush because of the huge anthrax scare. I tried everything I knew to do. I met with a former Senator, called my Congressman’s office, sent letters and faxes–all led to a dead end!
My mother-in-law, Evelyn, called me from the D.C. area. She was moving her son Greg there. He was in the Army and being transferred.
She had dinner with an old friend named Roland. Not knowing what his job title was, she mentioned my ornament project to see if he could help.
Roland was the executive director of The Christmas Pageant of Peace that is in charge of the lighting of the National Christmas Tree. He could get my letter and ornament to President Bush!
Roland wrote a letter to me and even though it was too late to erect a tree, he would make sure my ornament hung on the National Christmas Tree when the President lit the tree.
He also orchestrated my ornament then getting on the Georgia tree–one of 56 trees surrounding the National Tree.
Other ways the miracle was never ending, thanks to Roland:
- Greg got to sit on the 6th row in front of the President to watch the lighting of the National Christmas Tree.
- Greg was able to photograph my ornament on the Georgia tree.
- Roland mailed Mayor Giuliani the ornament I made for him.
- I got a personal letter from the President.
- Our local paper ran an article about the story.
- The Associated Press also ran an article.
The miracle list continued. On the three-month anniversary of 9/11, I organized a memorial tree ceremony at the school where I taught. A TV station came to the ceremony and aired the story, and another TV station ran another story.
I was honored to meet a family member who lost four relatives in the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. He thanked me for having the ceremony.
I sent more ornaments to the firehouses in New York City and received a T-shirt made in memory of an NYFD captain who lost his life, and I received a patch commemorating 9/11 that a lot of the firemen wear on their fire coats.
No, all these details don’t get orchestrated by man. It’s the hand on the Father working everyday miracles. I am blessed to be able to witness His miracles!
