We all may know about the miracle of the loaves and fishes- whether it was Divine multiplication or communal sharing - the crowd was fed on very little. I thought of that this Christmas at our family dinner-which was great by the way. We decided to lighten our cooking load and ordered sandwiches (along with making a bunch of appetizers).

I made a Caesar salad but forgot the croutons-I put out a family SOS (Save Our Salad) text and low and behold my sister came by with a two-pound bag of croutons along with a cranberry-mango torte, carrot cake cupcakes and a couple boxes of crackers. (Now who on earth has a two-pound bag of croutons?) Making the charcuterie board my daughter wondered if we had any fig jam-oops another shopping omission -another SOS - (Save Our ‘Sharcuterie’ -ok a little bit of a stretch there). I went to the family text once again- and yes, my niece showed up with a brand-new jar of fig jam along with three amazing cakes from a famous local bakery. Making punch I realized that ice cubes were in short supply- so I put out another SOS (Save Our Sangria) and wouldn’t you know my brother shows up with a fresh bag of ice. I saw the neighbor’s car in the driveway and invited her to join us- her dinner plans cancelled due to the host’s flu – another SOS (Share Our Sandwiches) and in she comes with a cheese platter and two pies.

There were platters of cookies and the annual chocolate covered cheesecake balls-crab dip-shrimp cocktail- it was a night of snacking- sharing and being together. Football, and a jigsaw puzzle and a fire in the fireplace. New friends, old friends and a lot of family. And perhaps the most heartwarming ingredient of all was watching the next generation laughing and playing games together. In that moment I could see the future- the family glue –the hopefulness that they will be there for one another ….and perhaps one more SOS to (Share Our Stories).

It was a perfect night of breaking focaccia bread together – sipping sangria-and watching the spirit of the Loaves and Fishes in real time. Maybe, just maybe, our own Christmas miracle!