ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME

I remember the required religion class I attended as a 10-year-old girl in catholic grade school where we learned about Guardian Angels. I could not imagine that Angels were assigned to every human being, standing at the ready 24/7, and I wasn't very receptive to the idea that someone was watching my every move. To be honest that idea spooked me! I felt that if I actually had my own Angel I would know, and there weren't any signs I could detect to prove there was an Angel in my presence.

As I grew older there was an occasional gnawing in the back of my mind about the entire concept of Angels among us. How did that work? If there were Angels, how was it possible they were everywhere? Angels sent to help us through the trials and tribulations of life didn’t seem likely. And their existence was certainly something science could not prove. What good was it to have an Angel watching over me if I couldn't hear her, see her or understand a word she was saying? This conundrum continued into my 30's until I discovered the writings of Joan Wester Anderson. Her books about Angels contained story after story about Angel interventions that saved lives, prevented accidents, or provided comfort during extreme stress. I was brought to tears many times reading these inspiring stories, and they brought me to the conclusion that Angels did, in fact, exist. But I stood firm in my belief that Angels were available only to those in the worst of circumstances. Angels couldn't or shouldn't be bothered with the trivial problems or annoyances occurring in everyday life.

I loved seeing images of Angels. The Angel on top of the Christmas tree and the Seraphim with their majestic horns in my church’s stained-glass windows were always a welcome sight. Occasionally I went to the religious store in my neighborhood and held Angel figurines that came in all shapes and sizes. Yet I was still quite certain that Angels were only for those in real need of guidance, protection or encouragement.

In 2009 at a bookstore that was like a second home to me, my opinions about Angels took a dramatic turn. I often went to this bookstore for a bit of peace from my hectic life. It had a homey, relaxed vibe, and I loved that it was perfectly acceptable to grab a book from a shelf and sit down to read.

It was during this time my husband and I were both laid off our jobs; the future was nothing more than one big question mark. I visited my bookstore and decided to spend a little time in the room where the Angel books were kept. I had zero intention of buying anything due to our uncertain financial situation, but what happened next threw that lofty goal out the door.

I skimmed through the pages of a few books about the Angels, but it was difficult for me to find comfort in the words. I felt oddly disconnected, but chalked up the feeling to the storms brewing in my world. As I rose from my reading perch to leave the room the most heavenly scent surrounded me. It was flowery, earthy, spicy, and it even "felt" like spring colors; purely intoxicating. Where was this heavenly scent coming from? The candles near the doorway? Nope. The incense display around the corner? Nope. There weren't any customers in sight, but I thought someone must have walked past the room leaving this glorious scent in their trail. I left the reading room to follow the scent. The moment I crossed the threshold my heavenly scent instantly evaporated. I went back into the reading room, crossing back over the threshold, and the scent was there. I went back and forth over the threshold several times to see if my nose was playing tricks on me. Each time out the scent was gone; each time in the scent was present.

Two things came to my mind. First, for many years I occasionally smelled roses in the air when there were no roses in sight. I had learned that the scent of roses is a trademark symbol that Angels are around. Second, I "knew" the scent carried a message with it that there was at least one book in the room that I was meant to have. Hesitant to spend any money, I made a silent agreement with the celestial beings who were sending me this message: I would leave the bookstore to get a cup of coffee, and when I came back if the scent was still there I would use my intuition to find the book intended for me. I left for an hour and when I returned I walked into that room and straight into the scent of the Angels.

I got to work pulling books from shelves, asking each one, “are you the book for me?" Sometimes I knew right away it wasn't the one, other times I wasn't sure, so those books were put in a separate pile. As the pile began to grow I realized there might be several books intended for me. I purchased 8 (EIGHT!) Angels books meant for me that day.

Several of the books were about how to communicate with the Angels, and those were my favorite. As I read I began to interpret, see, and understand the language of the Angels, and the various signs they send. I collected many coins and feathers, rocks and shells.

I began to see repeated number patterns and found out that this digital age in which we live has been a real boon for the Angels. Apparently, it is much easier for Angels to communicate in a digital system! I also loved reading about creating Angel altars, and ever since discovering this way to acknowledge them I have Angel altars in my home.

After 40+ years of dancing around the Guardian Angel question, I heard, felt, and smelled the Angels at work that day in my bookstore. And their messages were clearly meant for me, leaving no doubt that I do in fact have an army of Angels around me. I have learned that Angels help with everything no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. They send signs of encouragement, signs of comfort, and signs to let me know they are with me always. They have a marvelous sense of playfulness and a joyous sense of humor! I asked them to help me find the perfect person to repair the dented bumper of my car and they did. The repairman’s name? Angel.

Given my love of Angels, imagine my excitement when the opportunity to write a prayer for a book of Angel prayers was presented. I volunteered before I realized what I was doing, but I knew my Angels would be with me. I began free writing about Angels and gradually a theme for my prayer began to emerge. My prayer, "Loving Angels, Givers of Gifts," is published in 365 DAYS OF ANGEL PRAYERS. It is the prayer for June 25th, my birthday. In many ways it is a long overdue offering to my Guardian Angel who has been with me from birth, standing at the ready, always there to encourage and protect. I am happy to say I am now completely[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></v:path> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"></o:lock> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="officeArt_x0020_object" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:255.5pt;margin-top:24.1pt; width:207.65pt;height:162.2pt;z-index:251662336;visibility:visible; mso-wrap-style:square;mso-wrap-distance-left:12pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:12pt; mso-wrap-distance-right:12pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:12pt; mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin; mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:line' wrapcoords="0 -7 21600 -7 21600 21593 0 21593 0 -7" strokeweight="1pt"> <v:stroke miterlimit="4"></v:stroke> <v:imagedata src="file:////Users/redstockings2002/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/msoclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" o:title=""></v:imagedata> <w:wrap type="through" anchorx="margin" anchory="line"></w:wrap> </v:shape><![endif][if !vml][endif] receptive to Angels watching over my every move.