Celebrating the Seasons of Growth, Change & Miracles

With the holidays approaching I am reminded of how much "change" can add to our lives if we allow it to be the natural, ete al progression that it truly is. And, although the changes that take place in our everyday lives may not always be as predictable as the turning of the seasons, they are certainly no less significant. With every change we experience there is always a period of letting go of the familiar and the comfortable, followed by a period of uncertainty and, very often, grief. Whether it be a loved one who has transitioned, a job that has been lost, a marriage that has dissolved, a home that we must leave, or even one of our children going off to college, all change requires a period of adjustment to our new circumstances–an adjustment to a space that was once filled and is now seemingly empty. And, as difficult as these adjustments are for some of us, this is the time that miracles often become part of our lives; if we will only open ourselves up to the beauty of the unknown by embracing the very personal experience of letting go. Sooner or later, most of us will feel the profound pain that comes with losing a friend or family member. But grief isn't all tears and suffering. It’s also a pathway to spiritual growth, the birth of hope, and a deeper capacity for peace and joy. At some point in our lives, many of us have lost a job or a home or a way of life that was familiar and comfortable to us. And, these losses, too, are no less difficult to adjust to than the loss of a beloved friend, pet or family member. What can help us most through any loss is knowing that others have experienced what we are experiencing, and that we are not alone. And what can help us even more during these changes, is hearing the inspiring true-life stories of others who have also walked the path of loss, grief, and uncertainty–finding their way, healing, learning, growing and, finally, understanding that change is an integral part of life. TRUE STORIES FOR HEALING, PEACE AND HOPE Let me share with you the story Peanut's Miracle... Jennifer* shared with me the pain she, her husband Bob* and their eight-year-old son Michael* were experiencing as they grieved their precious Peanut, the dog they had lovingly rescued and adored for many years. Given that Bob worked at home, he was the primary caretaker of Peanut and, consequently, was exceptionally close to this little being. The death of Peanut left a huge hole in the life of each member of this family. The thought of being in the house without Peanut's presence made it difficult to get through an ordinary day--especially for Bob, who didn't have an office or school to escape to. According to Jennifer, while still grieving their Peanut, the family attended a Fall festival at Michael's school. As they stood outside trying to enjoy the cool evening air and laughing children, Jennifer and Bob noticed a gentleman holding the leash of a large black lab. Jennifer approached the dog and found that it was extremely friendly. As she petted the lab, the man told her that it was in training to be a search and rescue dog. Though Jennifer knew that Bob was not just yet eager to bring another dog into their lives, she encouraged him to pet and talk to this warm, sweet lab - and he did! It did not take much for Bob to engage in a wonderful connection with the dog. At this point, Jennifer felt comfortable presenting the idea that perhaps, when they were ready, they might consider adopting a lab. Furthermore, she broached the subject of adopting two dogs so that they would never be lonely. To her surprise, Michael seemed receptive to these ideas. Discussing this possibility, Jennifer felt a slight lifting of the terrible grief that had weighed their family down for days. They spent some more time outside, then went into the school to explore the games and activities that had been set up in the classrooms. Later that evening, as they were preparing to leave the school, the family experienced something which was for them, a sign that their decision seemed to be on target. As they approached the intersection where one hallway crossed another one, Jennifer noticed a sign on the wall. The word "Peanuts" was printed above an arrow pointing in the direction they were heading. Just as they turned the corner, they were stunned to again see the man and the black lab walking toward them! This, for sure, they felt was their Peanut providing them with the sig Jennifer had been asking for since their beloved pet had crossed over. It seemed clear that canine companionship might, once again, be in their future. The very next day, Jennifer, Bob and Michael accompanied their good friends, Dottie and her daughter on a tour of the local Humane Society. (This was a Girl Scout troop event for Dottie's daughter and Dottie had invited Jennifer and her family in hopes that it might be a healing experience for them.) Jennifer told me that she felt something special was going to take place, given the signs they had recently received from Peanut. She added that she had spoken to Peanut's spirit before they left the house that day, asking her to please make it clear if there was a dog the family was meant to take home. Jennifer explained to me that at the moment she and her family arrived at the Humane Society, another woman and her little boy were turning around to leave. They had two adorable black and white lab mix puppies in their arms. Much to the woman's chagrin, the staff of The Humane Society said they could not take these babies. The woman was extremely upset because she had found the abandoned puppies wandering in the woods, knew that they were two sisters, and was hoping they could both be adopted by one family. She desperately wanted to avoid taking them to an animal shelter, where their chances for adoption were most likely slim. Jennifer, Bob and Michael witnessed the woman's dilemma. Well, you probably guessed what followed. In an instant, Jennifer, Bob and Michael fell in love with the two puppies. In fact, they intuitively knew that everything had gone as it was supposed to go. Within the space of five minutes, the family had grown by two. As they stood in the parking lot of The Humane Society, hugging the wriggling puppies, they talked to the woman and the boy who had brought the puppies. It turned out that while Jen and her family had arrived earlier than they had thought they would, the "puppy bringers" had arrived later than they meant to because they had gotten lost. In fact, the woman said her GPS had malfunctioned -- something that had never happened before. The paths of the two families had barely crossed. They all agreed it had been meant for them to meet in this way! In fact, the woman tearfully told Jennifer that this was literally an answer to her prayers. Ivy and Rose, the names Jennifer's family chose for the pups, had already begun to help heal hearts broken by the loss of Peanut. Today, they are healthy, happy five-month-olds who fill their new forever home with joy, energy and love. Peanut is by no means forgotten. In fact, she is lovingly remembered and included in the family's life. Jennifer recently shared with me that it had bee Peanut's custom to jump up on her bed and curl up in the curve of her left leg when she was ready to go to sleep. One night as she was drifting off, Jennifer "felt" Peanut jump up on the bed and curl up in her usual place. Additionally, she and her family have heard the familiar sound of Peanut's collar tag jingling, filling them all with hope that Peanut continues to be with them. What Jennifer and her family are discovering is that love is the highest, most wonderful energy. You and your loved ones are ete al loving beings and when you become pure, loving energy, without a physical body, you will do all you can to let your loved ones know you are still present -- but in a different form. Such is the power of love! In Touched by the Extraordinary Book Two: Healing Stories of Love, Loss & Hope stories like these of synchronicities, answered prayers and miraculous events help us with expanding ones own awareness of the beautiful journey of Life, bringing us an astonishing sense of joy, acceptance, and inner-peace. We would love for you to share with us your stories where answered prayers, synchronicities and miracles have shown up in your life. Love & Healing, Susan Apollon ©2012 Susan Barbara Apollon *Names have been changed to protect their privacy.