"Let's have a Christmas party on Christmas Eve," Yoko Takahashi suggested to her husband one December morning. "I'm sure the children would enjoy it." Koichi didn't answer. He just said he would be home late and left for work.

December was usually the most stressful month at his company, and it was especially so this year with the sluggish economy. He wondered if he would be laid off someday, like so many others. Just two days earlier, he had attended a farewell party for one of his colleagues.

The shopping streets in Tokyo were gorgeously decorated with bright lights and glistening Christmas trees, but the passengers crowding onto the early-morning commuter train looked tired, even though their day was just starting.

"God, who has such a big, warm heart, has answered my prayer."

Koichi couldn't shake his anxious thoughts. What would happen if I were laid off? We wouldn't be able to make the mortgage payments on our home. Our kids are still very young.

When he reached his office, he turned on his computer, plunged into his email, and quickly became occupied with the day's work.

Around three o'clock that afternoon, his phone rang. It was the police. "Mr. Takahashi? Your wife was involved in a traffic accident. She is being taken to the nearest hospital. I'm so sorry."

Koichi jumped from his chair. "I don't believe it! It must be a mistake!" he cried. He kept telling himself this as he made his way to the hospital. She was perfectly healthy and whole this morning!

At the hospital, he found Yoko wrapped in bandages and connected to machines. Her car had been hit by a truck that ran a red light, he was told. She was in a coma and had a broken arm.

"We're doing everything we can for your wife. But we don't know if she will make it. Even if she regains consciousness, she will suffer serious aftereffects," a doctor told Koichi.

After gazing at his wife for a long time, Koichi wandered out of the hospital. Without realizing it, he was talking aloud to his wife. "Don't leave us! The kids need you! When you recover, let's do all the things we wanted to do together!" Passers-by looked at him and wondered what was going on. He didn't care.

Then he remembered that Yoko had recently started reading the Bible. He had flipped through it a few times and had to admit that there were some good things in it, but he still thought that religion was for those who either had too much leisure time or were weak in character. Rather than delve into religion, he reasoned, they should work harder and contribute more to their companies or society.

But now he couldn't stop thinking about God. I wonder if God exists. I wonder if He would answer my prayer. But it wouldn't make any sense to pray if He doesn't exist.

Still, he couldn't shake the urge. Yoko would want me to.

Finally Koichi prayed sincerely from his heart, "Dear God, if You exist, please spare Yoko's life."

Just then, a butterfly fluttered by in front of Koichi. On its vivid purple wings were white and light-blue designs. Though Koichi had often hunted for butterflies and other insects as a child, he'd never seen such a beautiful butterfly—and in December!

He felt this butterfly had been sent as a sign. In his mind was a distinct message: Your prayer is answered! Your wife will be well! To his surprise, Koichi felt warmth and peace flood his heart.

Five days later, when Koichi entered the ward for his daily visit, a doctor approached him. "Your wife has regained consciousness. It's unexplainable! We found no damage to her brain."

Koichi rushed into Yoko's room. Yoko smiled and greeted him in a weak voice. He told her to not try to talk, but she couldn't hold it in.

"I was in a beautiful field of flowers, and a lovely butterfly was flying around me. I felt so happy. Then there was Jesus. He told me that it was not yet my time to die—that I needed to go back and take care of my family."

Yoko was discharged from the hospital a few days before Christmas.

On Christmas Eve Koichi hurried home from work, carrying gifts for his family. Yoko, her arm still in a cast, was with their children in the living room.

"Let's sing 'Silent Night' together! Christmas is the day Jesus, God's only Son, was born," Yoko said.

Then Koichi noticed a new ornament near the top of the tree. It was just like the butterfly he had seen outside the hospital. Why is that here? Butterflies have nothing to do with Christmas—or do they? But he didn't think about it long, engulfed as he was in happiness and gratitude for his wife's miraculous recovery.

Yes, God exists. God, who has such a big, warm heart, has answered my prayer.

Lynn Matsumoto is a member of The Family International in Japan.