the first miracle of the new year

Last night we were looking for the front door keys.

Lately we've been going to our cousins' house a lot since our other cousins from Colorado came. So every time we left the house we would bring the house keys with us. Could have been the one on the door the one on my brother's car ones or the ones with my parents' car keys. We would bring one or two of the above. Over time we might lose track of where they were, and the house keys attached to my brother's car keys would end up unlocking the front door. Yesterday night we decided to look for the default front door keys and couldn't quite find it. It took even longer, we kept searching and searching. Table drawers, jacket pockets, bags, under the couch. We searched further and longer, my dad losing his patience.

We prayed. We searched even more, called cousin to see if we left it at her house, no? maybe we'll search there ourselves tomorrow - and more thoroughly - since it was about 11 pm.

I gave up, if it isn't in the house then I should just wait until the next day and search. My mom finally found it, it was in her bag that she searched earlier, but didn't unzip one of the compartments.

There has been so many stories like this one where I would displace things such as my wallet or keys or other small but crucial items. It seems that I can only find it after praying. Sometimes I try to search and search, seeing if it really is necessary to pray. Then I give up and pray and find it. Lesson learned: search time decreases as prayer increases. Yesterday was much more than that though, my dad was getting rather frustrated, saying that we were not responsible and other things. There was the mailbox keys among other things as well. We were praying for much more than finding the keys, peace mainly.

My mom remarked later that this was "the first miracle of the new year." Indeed it was. Small, yes; at the time, no. These are the small things we tend to forget. God answers small prayers as well and gives us peace when we ask for it. A reminder for me as the new year proceeds.

That was 1/1.