By Lori Jaffe
As we approach Christmas, a time of miracles, we ask why do some things happen the way they do? Why are certain lives saved at a particular time? We are not the first to wonder at unexplainable phenomena. People have been describing miracles throughout history. Even recently, many believe that we ourselves have witnessed at least one miraculous event. If there are miracles, are we making the most of them?
During our country’s founding, there were events that could not be explained. In July 1755, George Washington wrote to his brother Jack: “But, by the All-powerful Dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four Bullets through my Coat, and two Horses shot under me; yet escaped unhurt, altho[ugh] Death was leveling my Companions on every side of me!”
Letter from George Washington to John Augustine Washington (July 18, 1755), Page 1
“A Native American who fought in the battle later stated, “Washington was never born to be killed by a bullet! I had seventeen fair fires at him with my rifle and after all could not bring him to the ground” (Miracles in American History, Federer, pp. 17–19).”
1834 painting of George Washington leading soldiers during the Battle of Monongahela. Library of Congress
“In 1787, when 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin urged the Continental Congress to begin their daily deliberations with prayer, he commented, 'I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of men'—as the Bible states in several places (America’s Providential History, p. 172).”
In World War II, four miracles were associated with the Battle of Dunkirk.
British soldiers being rescued during the Battle of Dunkirk
“Something happened that historians, even 77 years later, can’t explain. With German tanks rumbling just 10 miles from Dunkirk, Hitler did the unthinkable. On May 24, the day King George VI called the nation to pray, Hitler inexplicably halted the offensive. For nearly three days, as England knelt as one, those tanks remained grounded. Nothing moved.”
“The Prime Minister called it a miracle, a word he was not known to often use. There seemed no other word to describe it. Not just one, but a whole series of miracles. Without any one of them, the entire operation would have failed. Hitler halting the blitzkrieg. The thick, protective cloud cover. The English Channel growing still. The hundreds of tiny boats, appearing seemingly from out of nowhere.”
Even in our generation we have seen an event that many have called a miracle - Donald Trump’s escape from an assassin’s bullet.
“A computer generated 3D visualisation made by social media account Point Consciousness shows a bird's eye view of the bullet skimming Donald Trump’s ear right after the former president moved his head."
"The 3D graphic also shows the path the bullet would have taken if Trump did not move his head at the last second.”
Does God guide the United States of America? Many believe that is true. How else could we have survived this long? But what are we doing with this gift?
As President Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” We must continue to act and make our voices heard.
And so dear reader, we encourage you to remember what we have seen and be of good cheer. We have been given a golden moment to prepare for future political battles. Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
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Lori Jaffe is the Party Secretary for the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee, volunteer coordinator and Member of the Executive Board. She can be reached at [email protected]
