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Monica is a typical teenager but she’s also wise beyond her years. Like her many friends, she plays soccer and runs track. She attends advanced classes at Sweeney High School and looks forward to college. Monica also takes time to reflect on her young life with a perspective that is supported by her religious beliefs. Those beliefs allow Monica to appreciate many things that she might otherwise overlook.
Here’s Monica Enriquez with her essay for KUHF’s This I Believe.
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“I believe in miracles. I understand the thought of miracles is not universally accepted, but regardless, I believe thousands of these blessings occur daily.
As a child, I always perceived miracles as being marvelous events with large crowds observing in awe. However, I now believe that many miracles occur and are often taken for granted or completely ignored and their source is believed to be science or technology, rather than a deity.
In my opinion, waking up every morning can be seen as a miracle. I am not guaranteed to live through the night or through the next five minutes, nor is anyone else. Many times I catch myself planning activities for days, weeks, or even months in advance without being thankful for the day I have been given.
In addition to these “small” miracles I don’t always acknowledge, I believe God performs miracles worthy of my recognition. My Uncle James and Aunt Cathy have two daughters. Their oldest daughter was born with muscular dystrophy, curvature of the spine and mental retardation. When she was born, the doctors said she would die young and it would be a miracle if she lived past the age of ten. Well, she’s now almost 30 years old. Even though she can not communicate through words, I believe God helps her express her feelings in the tone of her slurs and through body language.
My aunt and uncle have had many hardships dealing with all of my cousin’s disabilities. There is not a day that goes by without all three of them undergoing pain in even the most leisurely activities. Despite their agony, they find time to be a strong, loving family. I believe their daily perseverance and faith is truly a miracle. I only hope that when I am faced with a challenge, I can be as strong as them.
Believing in miracles is my personal choice which allows me to push through the rough patches. I look for these heavenly treasures throughout my daily life in order to shift the balance in the favor of good. By outweighing the evil in my life, I am able to stay positive and hopefully spread happiness to others. This I believe.”