When terrible events occur like the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., our faith in a loving Divine Source can get seriously shaken. I’m not going to even begin pondering the Big Questions. Instead, through the holidays I thought I would share some Angel Anecdotes. I don’t have the Whole Picture, but I’ve had enough experiences to know we’re not alone.
My daughter, Cary, keeps her Guardian Angels on their toes. Her name means Strong Woman. She announced by age eight that she was going to be a missionary and is living out her destiny. She’s traveled to Nicaragua, India, Nepal, China, Fiji and Cambodia, with intrepid courage. Whether she’s in a small plane edging over the Himalayas or a rickety bus in Angkor Wat, her Mother is praying her through.
ANGELIC INTERVENTION OF INCOMPETENT PARENTING
No mother is perfect, and neither was I, as these stories clearly reveal:
Incident #1: At 18 months old Cary was already a fearless explorer. Our Oklahoma rent house back yard had a beautiful bush with poisonous, red berries. I’d set up a barrier around the bush to be on the safe side. Cary and I were enjoying a little sunshine. I settled on a chaise lounge; she played nearby. You know how it goes–warm sun shine, soft breeze. My eyes grew drowsy…I wasn’t asleep, but I was heading that direction when I clearly heard–SHE’S ABOUT TO EAT A BERRY.
I sat up in time to see her a few feet away reaching under the make-shift fence for one of those irresistible berries. “No!” I yelled. She sat back and blinked at me, all innocent brown eyes.
Incident #2: At three years old, Cary could paddle around a pool quite well in an inner-tube. My parents’ back yard was our second summer home with its big pool. On this particular day, my friend, Sue, and her two children joined my two girls and me for a play date and lunch. We’d finished eating and were cleaning up. The kids played under the patio. I carried dirty dishes back into the house, turning my back on Sue and the kids. Sue picked up the used napkins and turned her back from the pool for a minute to throw them in the trash can.
That’s when Cary decided it was time to get back in the pool. She picked up her inner tube and placed it over her head, not thinking to stick her arms through the hole also. I had just closed the sliding screen behind me and entered the house when I heard–SHE’S GETTING IN THE POOL.
I turned around just in time to see her head disappear under the swim ring as she walked off the bottom shallow end step. I threw the dishes down, whipped open the screen, dashed across the concrete and jumped in the water. I doubt Cary was under water more than 10 seconds.
Sue and I were horrified that we’d both diverted our attention from the children at the same time. Good thing the Angel was still on watch!
I’m not generally a clairaudient intuitive (hearing messages)–but I guess when a situation is critical enough, a non-physical entity can give a shout-out. Or maybe being a Mother gave me an extra portion of ESP. I don’t know all the forces that came into play, but I am grateful I heard the messages and averted serious consequences to my momentary lapses of attention.
Thank God the Angels are out there. I obviously need all the help I can get! More anecdotes soon…Feel free to share yours.
Enjoy your weekend and hug your kids–
Dana Taylor
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Do you believe in angels? Three stories of angels in various guises.
HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Sibel Hodge paints a vivid picture of a woman caught up in a global travesty of our time: Sex-Slave Trafficking. Using the Diary format to tell Elena’s story of betrayal, helplessness, and degradation, Hodge sheds light on an industry that preys on thousands of young women every day. Using a novelist’s skill, we come to care for Elena quickly. Women readers can easily relate to Elena and how she feels caught in the trap of prostitution. The piece is gritty, but not gruesome. I read it in one sitting. It left me feeling like I wanted to DO SOMETHING, which I imagine was the reason Sibel diverted from her usual chick-lit fare to tackle a serious subject. Hopefully, the pen truly is mightier than the sword, and “Diary” will help raise awareness and action against one of the most shameful cruelties of modern times. Change begins with resolve. I admire Sibel Hodge for devoting her time and talent to keep this issue in the spotlight.
Time travel and reincarnation weave together in this novel set in present-day Galveston that flashes back to the weeks leading up to the great Galveston hurricane of 1900. By coincidence I read it as Hurricane Sandy was devastating the North East. The main character, Sirena, returns to her childhood bungalow on Galveston on a mission of self-discovery. Greeted by the ghosts of her great-grandparents, she confronts her issues of the present and past to find her future. Craver has a lot of elements working here–basically that a person can be living two lives simultaneously. She manages to pull it off without totally confusing the reader. I admired her courage at taking on the complexities of the storylines. An interesting read–especially when a big hurricane is actually making landfall.
The story centers on a black child of the Depression and her unlikely friendship with an aging white actress. Where did the story come from? I’ve rarely told the origin of the idea because people might think I am a little crazy (like that’s something new.) I’ve used the audio version as Christmas card in the past. A friend’s husband (fine Christian fellow) once asked me where the story came from and I told him the truth. I never got invited to their home again.
Triple action Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Toothpicks deliver therapeutic grade 