A Quiet Miracle on Christmas Eve

A reminder that when you follow your calling, you’re never truly alone.

Every year, somewhere between Christmas and New Year’s, I find myself in a quiet space. It’s a time when the noise of the year fades and reflection naturally begins. I look back at what happened, what changed, what hurt, and what moved me forward. Almost every time, something stirs inside me, something wakes up, something asks to be seen.

When I was in my early twenties, someone introduced me to a book called The Alchemist. I was young when I read it, but I remember how deeply I enjoyed it. That was more than twenty years ago.

'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho

A few weeks ago, completely out of nowhere, that book came back to me. I felt an urge to read it again. I remembered the feeling it gave me, but not the details of the story. This time, as I listened to it, something unexpected happened.\

I realized how closely my life mirrored the journey of the boy searching for his treasure. One line stayed with me more than anything else: When you are in search of your Personal Legend, the entire universe conspires to help you achieve it.

That sentence didn’t feel like a quote. It felt like a memory. It brought me back to Christmas Eve, 2009. I had opened my Newport Beach store just three months earlier, in September of 2009. I was filled with excitement and big dreams. But by December, reality had settled in. It was the middle of a recession, and I had almost zero sales the entire month.

That Christmas Eve, I could barely bring myself to open the store. I was about half an hour late. I wasn’t rushing. I remember thinking, Who’s going to come shopping on Christmas Eve anyway?

As I parked in front of the store and slowly got out of the car, I lifted my head and saw a tall man standing outside the door. I recognized him immediately. It was Bob.

Bob was tall, well into his seventies, with gray hair and a serious expression that rarely softened. If you didn’t know him, you might think he was angry or unapproachable. But beneath that tough exterior was one of the kindest souls I’ve ever known.

He was one of my old customers from the jewelry mart. He used to buy small, thoughtful gifts for his wife, simple pieces, never flashy. Back then, I had told him about my dream of opening my own store in Newport Beach.

I hadn’t seen him for almost a year. I rushed to the door, apologized for being late, and let him in. He smiled slightly and said he wanted to buy a Christmas gift for his wife.

I asked him to give me a little time to set everything up. He sat patiently while I opened the safe, cleaned the cases, and prepared the store.

When I showed him around, he chose several meaningful pieces. The total came to around $9,000. When he was ready to leave, he looked at me and said, I drove all the way from Fullerton to support you. I knew you needed it.

And then he left. I never saw Bob again.

I stood there in tears, not from fear, but from gratitude. In that moment, I understood what it truly means when you follow your calling. Sometimes the universe answers quietly, through people who arrive exactly when you need them.

Since 2009, whenever I’ve faced financial uncertainty or moments of fear, I’ve never panicked. Deep down, I’ve always known that the universe would take care of it, that it would send a messenger, just like Bob, at exactly the right moment.

Since that Christmas Eve, I’ve witnessed many “Bobs” walk into my life — unexpected, kind, and perfectly timed. Each one reminding me that when you stay true to your calling, you are supported in ways you can’t always see.

I still remember Bob’s last name. I still know how to spell it. And wherever he is today, I hope he has been blessed. He was one of those people who gently crossed my path and reminded me to keep going, not with loud encouragement, but with quiet belief.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: when you choose your path with honesty and heart, you don’t walk it alone. Help shows up. Support appears. And the universe finds its own way to say, keep going.

To every woman building something from nothing, trust yourself. Trust the timing. And know that when you follow your calling, the universe will meet you there.