The Strangest Miracle: Amanda’s Story

Sometimes, good things unexpectedly occur in life that we just can’t explain. We call these events mysteries of the mind, or miracles. And with this introduction, perhaps you can try to explain… the strangest miracle. 

“I’m not on drugs, nor am I delusional,” Amanda said; her dark brown eyes piercing mine. 

 I responded by smiling and simply saying, “You seem quite normal to me.” 

 Amanda retained me as her executive career coach. I had been working with her for a few weeks and found her to be highly intelligent, hard-working, and fully committed to her job campaign – to securing a better job. She was a well-respected IT professional, a loving mother of two children, happily married to her college sweetheart, and was actively involved with numerous community charities and organizations. Amanda had a strong personality and seemed well in control of her emotions, so I found her comment somewhat out of character.

 She called because she needed to schedule a session with me, but wouldn’t explain the urgency. Amanda was making good progress in pursuing a new job after her employer, Graham & Cromwell Medical Billing, was forced to terminate her after they merged with a national firm. But just last week, Amanda experienced a major setback. The one job she wanted most of all, fell through. She was one of two finalists for an executive IT position for a Fortune 100 company, and was informed she finished a strong second. Not good. So I assumed her session with me had to do with this disappointment.

 Amanda, in her late thirties always dressed professionally and carried herself with confidence. Today was no different. However, today she seemed distracted; almost distant. As she ran her hands through her long black hair, she turned her head and stared out the window to her left – in silence. I wasn’t sure where the conversation was heading. Or when it would actually start. I just sat patiently, and waited.

 After a moment of silence, Amanda began. “My mother and I have always been close; in fact, she’s always been my best friend. No matter what I faced in life, no matter how old I was, and no matter what she was going through herself, my mom was always there for me and always had the right answers at the right time for any situation. So last Wednesday, I was sitting by myself at Chelsea’s Restaurant having a cup of coffee, pondering my future while worrying about the present. This was just a few hours after I was told I lost out on the job I really wanted. I casually looked up from my newly created things-still-to-do list, and to my utter surprise, I saw my mother enter the restaurant. The next thing I knew, she was sitting across from me. I was speechless.”

 While Amanda was telling her story, she was staring out of my office window. Or so it seemed. And now she was silent again. I uncomfortably broke the silence, and asked, “Did your mother know about your interview?”

 Amanda seemed not to hear my question. She just continued on with her narrative. In a trance-like state she said, “When I saw my mom, I wiped my eyes and could hardly speak. I barely whispered, ‘Mom, how can…’

 “Honey,” Amanda’s mom interrupted. “Listen to me. Remember back when you played soccer as a child and, just before the championship game you sprained your ankle in practice? You were devastated. But you came home and were determined to do whatever it took to play in the championship game. And not only did you play, but you also scored the winning goal.” 

 Amanda turned to me and said, “You know, Jay - I did win that game. And my ankle was broken when they x-rayed it after the game. Can you believe it? I played with a broken ankle!” Her eyes returned to the window and she continued speaking; as if in a stupor. “My mother then reminded me of my first love in high school, Dustin Winters, who ended up breaking my heart. My mother then explained to me that life is like a symphony; that there are both high happy notes – as well as the low, sad notes. And this is what makes a symphony. ‘You don’t walk out of the symphony when you hear the low, sad notes,’ my mother said. ‘Or the angry clash of the symbols. You take them in. You embrace it all.

 “‘Likewise, you don’t walk out on the low, sad, and angry events or situations in life either… like a symphony, you embrace them. That’s what makes up life… the good and the bad; the highs and the lows. The ups and the downs.’ You see, Jay, my mother was always very wise. She always had a special way of communicating with me so I would understand. She had a gift of explaining life that always helped me live it better – to help me through the tough times.”

 I interjected, “So I assume your mother had some words of wisdom and support to help you overcome the disappointment of last week?”

 “Yes, and quite unexpectedly,” Amanda answered, now directing her gaze directly at me; or should I say through me. “As my mother sat across from me in that restaurant, I kept asking myself how could she be here at this moment, feel my pain, and have the right words to comfort and encourage me? I mean, I just got the bad news a couple hours ago.

 “As I began to ask her how this could be happening, my mother interrupted again. In her affectionate and comforting way she said, ‘Everything will be fine, sweetheart. There isn’t anything you can’t do or overcome. Think back at when you were diagnosed with Crohns Disease at age 28. Through diet and nutrition - and a burning desire to heal, you have fully controlled this health issue. Now you just need to muster the same strength, belief in yourself, resourcefulness, and conviction to secure a new job. If you focus your energy and thoughts on what you have and what you have overcome throughout the years, you’ll use this positive energy to land an even better job that you just interviewed for. Remember, energy attracts like energy. You are what you think and you attract your thoughts. Think good thoughts and you’ll attract all that you deserve.’

 “Mom reached across the table and took my hand,” Amanda continued. When her hand touched mine, I felt a warm sensation I’d never felt before. I suddenly felt empowered and in control. Mom smiled at me and said something she said hundreds of times throughout my life. ‘There’s nothing you can’t accomplish if you set your mind to it. You have everything it takes to succeed. Never quit; never give up; and never settle for less than you can be.’ I then looked deep into my mother’s eyes and saw the confidence she had in me. At that moment, I knew I would be fine; that I would land a job in a matter of days, not weeks.” Amanda reiterated her timeline with conviction. “Days, Jay, not weeks!”

 Amanda gazed up at the ceiling, at nothing in particular, and then said to me. “That afternoon, when our discussion was seemingly winding down, my mom smiled; her love for me ever-present, and she said, ‘Take control. Don’t leave a day without planting good seeds; for when you plant well, you’ll reap all the rewards you want and deserve.’ My mother then, quite unexpectedly, rose from her seat, blew me a kiss, and left. Suddenly, the waitress disrupted the moment and handed me the check. I took it, and after a few moments of watching my mom disappear, looked at the check. All that was on the check were the words…YOU ARE WORTHY.  Amanda then fumbled through her pocketbook and pulled out the check she saved, and handed it to me. I read it. YOU ARE WORTHY.

 Amanda said, “Somehow, and don’t ask me how, when I saw my mother’s words, Janet Clayton’s name came to my consciousness. Janet, as you know, is the executive recruiter I’ve been working with. So I called Janet just to check in with her. Can you believe it – she told me she was just about to call me! She had a senior IT position to fill with Whirlwind Media – and that I was the perfect candidate for the position. Long story short, after 4 days of interviewing with Whirlwind Media this week, I was offered a job yesterday. And I accepted the position this morning. It’s truly the perfect job for me and I start next week! 

 Amanda then thanked me for the support I had provided. As she rose from her seat, there were tears in her eyes; I assumed tears of joy. I asked, “I’m sure you shared the good news with you mom. What did she say?” 

 Amanda lowered her head, picked up her pocketbook, and wiped a tear or two from her eyes. As she turned to leave my office she said, “My mother passed away over three years ago.”