Christmas Day, just a few days ago, my Sam was working a shift at the senior home in Mankato as he does so very often. He’s a server many days, bringing meals to the elderly residents who live there. He knows many of them well, so well harmless little old ladies will occasionally pinch his bum, but that’s a whole different story. In any case, he’s good at his job. Charming and funny like his dad, he is well known around the place and has many friends. Although, on occasion, he’ll run into someone who doesn’t know him particularly well, and certainly doesn’t know his family story. Serving Christmas dinner to one random table, a kind woman who he hasn’t served often complimented Sam on his service. A compliment is always so nice to hear. But the woman continued and said, “You know, I know your name is Sam, but you just don’t seem like a Sam to me. I always want to call you Tim.”

Wow. On Christmas Day of all days. Sam smiled and mentioned that his dad’s name was Tim. She had no idea, but she had just delivered a hug from God to Sam. A tiny miracle that reminded Sam that God knows his story better than anyone and knew a Christmas hug from his dad would be the best unexpected gift that day.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

I don’t know about you, but gosh, the mystery and magic of these tiny miracles are one of my favorite things in the whole world. The times when God reminds us He’s near, He knows us, and He understands our spirit needs a little bump sometimes. An encounter that can only be explained by a creative and thoughtful and powerful God stepping in for a moment.

Imagine that with me if you will…the Creator of the Universe, of mountains, oceans, expansive skies and twinkling stars, of fiery sunshine and torrential rain, of gentle breezes, redwood trees and four-leaf clovers, hummingbirds and soaring eagles, of all creatures great and small, He decides to step in for a moment and let us see Him. A God so great taking time for the little things. Lately He’s been showing up in hearts for me. A heart in water puddled on the garage floor. A heart smudged in the salt on my car. Or a heart in an accidentally missed spot while painting floorboards. Perfect hearts in happenstance places and ways don’t just show up continually, do they? And the best part, that somehow I am nudged to see them. Something makes me pause and notice as I tromp with snow boots into the garage, or realize how badly I need a car wash, or as I’m sitting on the couch annoyed because I notice we forgot to paint a section. For a heart that is searching for God these are not just nothing. They are tiny miracles reminding us He’s here, He knows, and He loves.

Today I pray that God gives all of us a tiny miracle to see, a hug to feel from Him. Reassurance that what we cannot see but have faith in anyway is truly right here, next to us and knowing. Knowing just the moment we might need a little hug.