February is the time of year when all eyes turn to love.  A day, February 14, Valentine’s Day, when we make a special effort to let people know we love them by showering them with a sea of pink and red hearts, cupids, cards, chocolates, candy grams, flowers, dinners and champagne. It is a beautiful day for most because we have expanded it to not only include lovers, but also children, family and friends. There is only one flaw with Valentine’s Day: It is just ONE day.

I sat in the balcony of a beautiful, historical, Lutheran church in downtown Charleston. It was a Friday morning. I peered down to the sea of black, bulging from the pews of the filled sanctuary. It was somber. The sniffles of quickly wiped tears wafted through the air. It was the funeral of Carter. He was 22.

“The New Year is a painting not yet painted; a path not yet stepped on; a wing not yet taken off! Things haven’t happened as yet! Before the clock strikes twelve, remember that you are blessed with
the ability to reshape your life!”   — Mehmet Murat ildan

When most people think of miracles, they think of acts so great they are beyond earthly power. Some think of the many miracles Jesus performed in the Bible, such as restoring a blind man’s sight and bringing a dead man back to life.

What’s the most frustrating thing about Christmas Day? I’ll give you three guesses. It’s not timing the dinner correctly so that everything is ready at the same time. It’s not gritting your teeth and rolling your eyes at your obnoxious uncle who thinks he knows everything, and it’s not listening to your sister preparing her list of returns. The most annoying thing on Christmas Day is trying to get the toy packages open so your child can actually play with the toys inside of them.