Expect A Miracle

Like most of us, I have a few books and authors that I turn to when I find myself lacking motivation. Today was one of those days and my author of choice was Norman Vincent Peale. Those of you already familiar with his work know how inspirational his work can be. Those of you who have not read is work; I urge to pick up a copy of  The Power of Positive Thinking. It has changed my life on a number of occasions, as it reminded me of the things I already know but sometimes forget to practice.

Today, I was reading You Can If You Think You Can by Dr. Peale. About half way through the book I suddenly confronted a chapter called "Expect A Miracle" and was immediately struck by how easily we forget the importance of our expectations.

I like to call it forgetting because it creeps up on us gradually. We don't make a conscious effort to alter our believing. Perhaps we are influenced by those around us, perhaps we simply forget that positive thinking requires active participation - at any rate, we gradually begin to adopt the attitudes and expectations of those around us.

Before we know it, we've forgotten the miracle of life bestowed on us with each passing day. We neglect to see the miracle of the rising sun. Our joy begins to weaken and life becomes routine. Like the proverbial frog in the pot of water who doesn't notice as the water heats and will sit there contentedly even though it is sure to bring him death, we become oblivious to our state of mind.

If you, like me, find yourself lulled into forgetting about the power of your thoughts and faith to build the life you desire, its time to begin Expecting Miracles and being ready to accept them when they come.

Today, I am grateful for the summer sun that warms my garden beds, for leaves that dance in the evening breeze and fireflies that light the night. I am grateful for the blades of grass that waver in the wind, the sounds of the tree frogs that make music in the night and for butterflies that dance by day.

I am grateful for the smell of newly-mown hay, for the feel of raindrops on the skin and for gentle breezes that cool the air. I am grateful for mighty oceans and majestic mountains, for shiny pebbles in the sun and sand beneath my feet.

I am grateful for family and friends, for strangers I have yet to meet and old friends who helped to make me who I am. I am grateful for children as they laugh and play, for pets that share our lives and animals that inhabit the earth.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as your stop to share my day. May you cultivate the art of Expecting Miracles as you go forth in the direction of your dreams.

We tend to get what we expect. Norman Vincent Peale

The simple truth that our expectations set the stage for what we receive may seem too simple, too easy or too fundamental for us to believe. Many of us have been raised to think that we are but mere puppets in the game of life and that life happens to us. That simply isn't true. Our attitude towards life, the expectation with which we greet the day and our belief in something outside of ourselves makes things happen.

Greet the day with joy and expectation today that your life may be filled with abundance and peace of mind. Cultivate your dreams today that you may reach above a mundane existence and overcome obstacles in your way.

So often we greet the day with an attitude of defeat and fear, never giving thought to the power within us all to overcome and to live joyous lives. I challenge you today to lift up your thoughts, refine your dreams and expect the best to come your way.

Today, I am grateful for the generosity of others, for warm smiles and light hearts. I am grateful for helping hands that reach out to the lives of others. I am grateful for Norma Vincent Peale who has touched my heart with his wise words first in The Power of Positive Thinking and now The Amazing Results of Positive Thinking. 


I am grateful for the mighty Universe filled with beauty from the tiny flower to the vastness of space. I am grateful for sunny days, for starry skies and for summer. I am grateful for water that flows in tiny streams and mighty rivers and brings life to the earth.


I am grateful to meet the day with hope and expectation of all good things that shall come to pass, for family that shares my life and neighbors who amaze me with their generosity. I am grateful for babies that bring new life into the homes of proud parents, for pets that comfort the sad or lonely and for music that soothes the soul.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you meet the day with expectation of the good things to come as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.