Angels All Around Us

I’m sitting in someone else’s home looking out at a million dollar view and thinking about how many wonderful people there are in this world.  You’ve met them, too, but just in case you’ve forgotten?  There are angels all around us.

Let me tell you about the angels I’ve met in the past 24 hours

A month ago we scheduled a trip to Florida to look for a house.  A month ago I didn’t know I would mysteriously injure my knee and be unable to do anything but hobble with a crutch and a knee brace.  Since we have no other time available for this trip, we decided to go ahead.  And that’s when my angels began to appear

At the airline counter we explained to the agent that I’d banged up my knee and couldn’t get to the gate.  No problem.  They produced a wheelchair and someone to assist me.  He was the soul of kindness.  At the gate the agent scurried around to find me a better seat on an aisle so I could stretch my leg, then told us to board first.  Angel two.

On the other end another wheelchair was waiting, and a wonderful man took two of us down to baggage claim, never complaining about managing two wheelchairs in dense airport traffic .  He deposited me right at the rental car booth.  Angel three

The next angels were familiar.  My mystery writing friend Joanna Slan had invited us to see her home and do lunch.  So she and her wonderful husband greeted us, gave us a tour and took us to their favorite restaurant.  Not only is their house wonderful, so was their company.

Then we arrived at our destination, where brand new angels offered us their home for the duration four stay, as well as sage advice and any other help we might need while we’re here.

Life’s not always like this.  We all know that.  There are days when the angels are whirling their wings somewhere out of sight.  But we all have moments like these, when we are surrounded by kindness, by extra care, by love.  Even if we have done absolutely nothing to deserve it.

I’ve learned two things from my silly knee injury.  One, to pay more
attention to people moving slowly and do whatever I can to help.  Two, to pay more attention to the kindness, the light, that surrounds us.  It’s so easy to ignore both.  I’ll be less apt to in the future.

How about you?  Want to tell us about your angels?  We’re listening.

7 Comments

  1. Pat Pollock on April 20, 2012 at 9:13 am

    My mother-in-law passed away yesterday, and I can’t believe how many kind angels are surrounding us. Food, prayers, advice, love–we are so blessed at having friends and families who are ready to drop everything and give a hand. It’s a good reminder to me to “be” an angel, too.

  2. Debbie Hearne on April 20, 2012 at 9:57 pm

    A wonderful heartwarming blog to read tonight Emilie. Thank you for sharing with us.

  3. Sherry on April 20, 2012 at 10:04 pm

    Beautiful post! We memorialized our Nana today, so like Pat stated above, there are many angels in helping us deal with the details, the hurt and the loss. My 16-yr old son gave the eulogy today and by him overcoming his fear to write and speak from his heart, he was able to touch many members of Nana’s family. He was truly an angel today in honoring our newest angel, Nana.

  4. Mary Ronsman on April 20, 2012 at 10:28 pm

    Two years ago I had to have a 4-hour surgery, no guarantee of the outcome. An online quilting forum that I belonged to sent me a beautiful autograph quilt with inspiring messages and their well wishes. I got it four days before I left and packed it to bring along to feel their love & comfort. It did help in my recovery and brought many nurses (and fellow quilters) in to talk. I still get teary-eyed when I look at it and know that I’ll probably never meet any of these cyber-girlfriends. They’re truly angels.

  5. Cheryl Rasmussen on April 20, 2012 at 10:35 pm

    I have had lots of angels over the years. I have had 4back surgeries, nech, two replaced hips and a knee. We are here in FL 7 months out of the year and I have 6 wonderful angels who help me get to the beach, shopping restaurants. The won’ t let me lift anything. They are 6 women that I met when we were looking for a place to buy. They have been my angels every season and they are snowbirds just like me from all over the country. Could’t live without them. I also know what it is like to have those angels in the airport. I try to be an angel back as I knit hats for the homeless centers and starting to knit preemie hats also. Before Christmas I made lots of ruffle scarves and if I was out and about with one on and someone said it was nice or pretty I would take it off and give it to that person. Oh by the way, they were complete strangers. You never know when someone is an angel. Very nice to have yours.

  6. Belinda Ellis on April 27, 2012 at 4:16 pm

    I believe that angels appear to help when we are so in need – After my son passed away, I struggled to just have a normal life. The grief was and can still be at times overwhelming. It was Christmas Time, and I was out shopping for a gift for my Mother in law. I really could have cared less for the holiday that year, just going thru the motions. The clerk who helped me was so wonderful, she shared that her son had passed away years ago, and it does get better. Never goes away, but becomes manageable. This sweet clerk gave me the gift of the holiday, lifted my spirit. I never saw her again, but feel she was an angel sent just for me. Angels are all around us, we just need to look for them.

    • Emilie Richards on April 27, 2012 at 5:13 pm

      Bless her and bless you, Belinda, for sharing this beautiful story. Sometimes the smallest things we do, even if we don’t realize it, can make such a huge difference. I’m glad she made a difference in your life. And glad you told us.

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