Saturday was a day of miracles.

I had been working all afternoon in our yard, cleaning up the last of the trillion leaves, cutting the grass, and taking down our trampoline. I also spent time in the garage, organizing it to see if Elisa’s truck could fit there this winter.

But what about a simple, normal day made Saturday a day of miracles?

THE MIRACLE OF NO HEART ATTACK

Three years ago last week, after two ER trips and seven weeks of worsening pain and exhaustion, incredible doctors finally figured out what was wrong.

My heart was okay–no heart attack.

But all three major arteries were 95%-99% blocked. Everything was set for what they call the Widow Maker, something Elisa wasn’t ready for.

Neither was I.

Heart health is influenced by many factors. For me, genetics played a major role. Heart disease affected both my parents and all four grandparents. However, the cardiologist noted something surprising: the specific damage to my arteries also pointed to the long-term effects of radiation treatment.

In my mid-20s, I had undergone radiation therapy for Hodgkin’s Disease, a type of cancer. It was sobering to realize how those life-saving treatments had contributed to my current condition.

As Elisa and I reflected on that Saturday, she reminded me of what Dr. Crawford at Intermountain Logan Regional said when he showed her the results of my angiogram. His confident words stood out:

“Don’t worry, we can fix this.”

THE MIRACLE OF ASSURANCE

During traumatic events, finding assurance in the face of fear is like grabbing a lifeline. Dr. Crawford’s calm, confident words were exactly that for Elisa–and for me. In a moment that could have been filled with panic, his demeanor gave us hope.

Hope isn’t just a passive feeling; it’s an active force that inspires trust, action, and perseverance. Those simple words, “Don’t worry, we can fix this,” embodied hope at its core.

Miracles aren’t always about dramatic outward changes. Sometimes, they’re about internal shifts. For me, the miracle wasn’t just the life-saving surgery that followed but the deep reassurance that we were not alone in our darkest moments.

As Viktor Frankl wrote:

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms–to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

That day, and every day since, we’ve chosen to feel hope, create hope, and be hope.

THE MIRACLE OF INSPIRATION

It took two days to secure a room at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, the state’s premier heart surgery center.

The open-heart triple bypass procedure I underwent relied on the heart-lung machine–a groundbreaking invention developed in part by Dr. Russell M. Nelson, a world-renowned heart surgeon. Decades before, he performed the first open-heart surgery west of the Mississippi.

Today, Russell M. Nelson serves as the current prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His inspired contributions to both physical and spiritual hearts have impacted countless lives, including mine.

In his autobiography, President Nelson shared this about his work as a surgeon.

“I knew that the Lord was directing my efforts. Answers came to mind and hands that I could not have planned or imagined on my own. Miracles made possible what seemed impossible.”

THE MIRACLE OF DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE

On my journey of the heart over these last three years, and on the spiritual journey of my heart over a lifetime, I have also experienced the miracles made possible that truly saved the impossible.

I would like to share three of those incredible miracles.

❤️ It was a miracle that I did not experience that Widow Maker heart attack in the seven weeks between my first and second ER visits. I felt the pain and exhaustion were just something I was going to have to push through. I had no idea how risky that was.

❤️ Because of my service in the Army National Guard, and specifically because of non-combat injuries received while in Iraq in 2004-2005, my medical bills were covered 100% by the VA. This is a huge blessing I do not take lightly.

❤️ There were many helping hands, prayers, encouragement, and support that lightened the heavy load over a very long healing journey. The greatest support for me was from my angel Elisa and our children, each loving and supporting in their own way. Words of a lifetime will never fully express my eternal love and forever gratitude.

THE MIRACLE OF TWO FATHERS

The Journey of the Heart isn’t just about these recent years of physical healing. It’s also about the emotional and spiritual journey I’ve been on for much longer.

Through the whisperings of my Eternal Father, I came to understand something profound: I wouldn’t have survived the physical journey had I not first walked the spiritual one.

God’s message to me was clear:

“You are alive, my son, because you first got your life in order.”

The veil between heaven and earth is thin–a truth I experienced personally. Just hours after my surgery, as I was waking up, my earthly father, who had passed seven years earlier, appeared to me. Through the thin veil, he shared a simple but profound message:

“Keep your chin up, son.”

Those five words, spoken only in life’s toughest moments, have stayed with me. Dad’s encouragement, combined with the spiritual strength of my Heavenly Father, has given me the vision and confidence to keep living my promises to “get back up, every time, no matter what.”

THE MIRACLES YOU ARE CREATING

Every miracle–big or small–points us toward the Divine. But miracles are not limited to the past; they are being created daily through our actions, our choices, and our faith.

What miracle are you creating today?

Will you find assurance in the face of fear, hope in the midst of challenges, or strength to rise again?

Life is a journey of the heart.

You never need to walk the journey alone.

Keep your chin up and embrace the miracles waiting for you.

INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP 13 MINUTE ACTION

Take 13 minutes today to reflect on the miracles in your life, record in your journey, and share with a loved one.  

❤️❤️❤️

I love you, friend!

Have a great Monday! Thanks for letting me share.

Les

p.s. On this week of Thanksgiving, I share my forever gratitude for being part of my journey of the heart.

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