MY RESONANT MIRACLES

A True Personal Story

Nov 22, 2025

The dining room atmosphere was enchanting. With subtle soothing movements, the ship gently rocked. Enticing exotic food smells wafted from dishes the waiters presented. We were on a grand ship somewhere in the Caribbean. We were enjoying a Carnival Cruise with some friends, our first ever. Having the time of our lives. The excursions were crazy; we had dived for conches at Grand Cayman, climbed the seven waterfalls in Ocho Rios, Jamaica (after fighting off multiple wanna-be hairdressers wanting to braid our hair), and taken a race-car-like tour of ruins in Cozumel.

This was a totally transcendent tropical recess from our normal crazy lives. As we were partaking of another phenomenal dinner with our friends, attempting to have deep existential conversations, there was a sudden commotion at a nearby table. It was irritating. Up until then, we were enjoying the ambience. But something dramatic was happening. The people at the table had all jumped up. A lady was yelling. Not sure why. Overdone steak? A fly in her soup? I didn’t think so. Then we saw what was happening. Not a pretty scene.

A man at the table apparently had gotten some food lodged deep in his throat. He was moving around strangely, as though that would somehow alleviate his situation. Barely able to stand, you could see the ultimate desperation on his face. He couldn’t breathe. His wife was getting hysterical. Several of the dining room staff responded immediately, came to the table, and quickly assessed the situation.

While hundreds in the dining room looked on, one of the staff turned him around, put his arms around him and then conducted a Heimlich maneuver. What happened next had some pros and cons. The pro is that whatever had become lodged in the man’s throat, became dislodged, being projectiled out, like a little missile (once again for all to see). The con is that we all lost our appetites. All was well though, as the man was certainly going to live and not die. Unfortunately, that’s not the end of the story.

The next day when we asked a staff member how the man was doing, he got a strange look on his face. He told us that the man was doing fine but that he was going to file a lawsuit against the cruise line and against the individual that administered the Heimlich maneuver. He told them that during the maneuver, a couple of his ribs had been broken. Interesting. I guess I can see that. If my life had been saved but I broke a couple ribs in the process, why not sue the pants off them? I could scarcely believe it.

Throughout my years I’ve seen many such incidents of such ungratefulness. In my high and lofty opinion, being unthankful actually brings a curse on oneself. It’s not good. Being truly thankful is not only a loving thing to do but has strong life ramifications. Sometimes, although I’m sure I miss it sometimes, I try to go out of my way to be thankful to food servers, or anyone actually, that serves me. They may not show it, but they certainly appreciate it.

There’s a fascinating Jesus story that provides a wonderful illustration of the concept of thankfulness. One day as He was entering a village, He encountered ten lepers. I’m not sure how they knew who Jesus was, but they cried out to Him to have mercy on them. His response was interesting. He said “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” When they followed His directions, they were all miraculously healed. One of them came back to Jesus and thanked Him and glorified God. Jesus was blown away that only this one came. He stated emphatically to the man, “Your faith has made you well.”

Only one came to show his thankfulness. That’s 10%. I wonder if that’s typical demographics in this day and age. All ten of the lepers were healed but this one (who was a lowly-esteemed Samaritan) offered true heartfelt gratitude, not a fleeting ‘thank you’. Although it isn’t totally clear what is meant by “Your faith has made you well.”, it likely indicates that he received the greater gift of salvation and spiritual wholeness.

This being a particularly poignant season of thankfulness, I decided that it might be a germane idea to share my weekly story with that sentiment in mind. Not that we shouldn’t be thankful year-round, but in this Thanksgiving season, the concept of thankfulness is more openly engaged by many people. When I spend a few moments in reflection, so many incredible personal miracles that I’m thankful for compete for my attention.

Let’s start here. Last year, Julie, (my beautiful beloved wife) discovered she had an aneurysm in her brain. Not the best news she had heard that day. This was obviously quite the challenge for us. It wasn’t that much fun for her, walking around knowing she had an unwelcome little bubble in her head that could burst at any time. I’m pretty sure not too many people would enjoy that.

We were very fortunate that we found an amazing neurosurgeon that conducted a successful operation. The fact that it was randomly discovered and successfully treated; thank you Jesus. We were so very thankful that it was discovered, like I said, randomly. She had ordered an MRI to see if they could discover why she had tinnitus. Although not finding out anything about the tinnitus, the MRI miraculously revealed the aneurysm. We were thankful for the discovery and very thankful for the operation.

The operation was just two weeks before our 50th wedding anniversary, so it was an early anniversary gift, I guess. Here’s an odd coincidence; an aneurism was also randomly discovered in my body a couple years before; in my Iliac Artery. Randomly? I don’t think so. It was also successfully treated. I’m so totally thankful to God for its discovery and subsequent operation.

Taking a little stroll fifty years back, we got married in a little church in Bellingham, Washington. When Julie took me as her husband, she displayed a great amount of faith, as we hadn’t made it as a couple before we each found the Lord. I’m forever thankful she made that decision fifty years ago. She has been an amazing wife and mother. I can’t begin to describe the ways she has been so wonderful. I’m so thankful to her and to God for her.

Every couple certainly goes through their unique trials and tribulations. We’ve certainly had our fair share. One particularly trying trial we faced was our inability to have children. As the years went on, this was particularly painful for Julie. Seeing friends all around her having children; giving baby showers, going to children’s birthday parties only added to her anguish. Suddenly, after twelve years of infertility, Julie found herself miraculously pregnant. A mindblower it was for us! She gave birth to our son Joshua two minutes into April 1st (April Fool’s Day)! The cherry on the cake is that we had two miracle baby horses born at the same time (the mares were both infertile). Praise the Lord! A few years later along came our son Joel. A few years later daughter Jasmine showed up on the scene. I’m thankful beyond words for my wonderful, beautiful children. They have incredible spouses as well, Jessica, Elissa and Jonathan. I certainly can’t leave out granddaughter Aurora and grandson Caleb. I thank God for each one of them.

Speaking of family, I have five wonderful siblings: Joanie, Jon, Jenni, Jerry & Jeff (I’m not sure why my parents loved ‘J’s so much). Although some of them aren’t as highly evolved as I am in regard to political philosophies, we get along great. In my opinionated opinion anyway. In fact, for the last five years we’ve conducted a bi-weekly zoom call where we keep each other appraised of what’s happening in our respective families. I am truly grateful for the wonderful family I was born into and for each of my sibs and their spouses. Thankful also for the upbringing my parents gave me.

I’m also thankful that Julie and I were recently invited to be a part of the leadership of GAP Ministry that serves hundreds of children and other needy folks in Tucson. They recently celebrated their 25th anniversary and were also recently named as the In & Out Burger non-profit of the year out of hundreds of other non-profits.

I’m also so thankful for my good health; I play competitive volleyball each week and often go on perfectly picturesque hikes with Julie. I’m thankful for the staggering sunsets, the cheerful chirping birds, some of the comical saguaro cactus and the delightful desert flowers. I’m thankful that we’ve been able to travel lately a bit both near and far; Hermosa Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Sedona, Santa Fe, San Martin, Puerto Rico, Puerta Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. I’m thankful for the many horses we have had and the delightful times we’ve had riding them. I’m thankful for all the adorable pet dogs and cute kitties we’ve had. They were all unique and part of our family.

Here’s what I’m most thankful for; an amazing God that heard my cries and changed my life. He can make a way where there is no way. He did it for me. I wouldn’t have had the wonderful, exciting life I’ve had without Him. Not my marriage of fifty years, not my children and grandchildren, not my health. Not my peace and tranquility. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for everything!

I challenge you, my friend, to adopt a heart of thanksgiving. Try to wake up each morning thanking God for the incredible life He has given you.

Thank you for reading my story. It would be a huge boost to my fragile self-image if you would give me a ‘like’. Also, you might want to think about taking advantage of my offer of a free subscription if you aren’t already a subscriber. Be on the alert for my spell-binding story next week, ‘DR M. MY MANIAC MAD SCIENTIST’.