Do You Believe in Angels
January 18, 2009
Do you Believe in Angels?
A recent polls said about 75% of Americans believe in Angels.I believe! There I said it.For those who know my story, you know why I know there are Angels. I’m sure some of my readers are those who don’t believe or believe only by faith. And I have to tell you reading this may not change your point of view on Angels. But I urge you to read on anyway.
Yesterday, NBC’s Today’s Show ran this story about Angels.In September, Colleen Banter was saying good bye to her daughter Chelsea. You see Chelsea was at Presbyterian Children’s Hospital here in Charlotte dying. Her mother Colleen had made the decision to take Chelsea off life support. The family had said good bye and all were waiting for Chelsea’s life to end.But about an hour later, Colleen was at the nurse’s station and suddenly an image which looked like an Angel appeared on the hospital surveillance monitor. The Angel went into Chelsea room and almost immediately Chelsea began to recover.This holiday season Chelsea is celebrating her 15th birthday. Other members of the hospital staff also reported seeing the image. Others witness the image which was captured on Colleen’s cell phone. Something, witnessed by others, happened to change what appeared to be Chelsea’s destiny.
As wonderful as this report is it did not change my belief that Angels walk among us.You see my daughter was saved by an Angel too.
My child was in a car accident during her junior year of High School. If you are a parent, the accident was your worst fear.She was riding with a friend. They were on the way to the grocery store to pick up milk for the drivers infant sister.It was right after school. While making a left hand turn in a Dodge Neon they were hit by a woman on a cell phone driving an SUV about 45 mph.My child was on the passenger side and took the full force of the crash.Witnesses have different accounts but what is agreed upon is a man appeared and reached in the car to unfasten my child’s seat beat and re-adjust her position. By doing that the para-medics said it allowed her to breathe.Right after releasing the seat belt, people said the stranger moved back and then was gone.No one remembers, him getting neither out of or into a car. No one remembers him walking away from the scene. They only remember he was there and then gone.
Was the stranger an Angel or just someone who was nearby and in the ensuing excitement could easily continue on his journey? I guess that just depends on your point of view. But between this strangers random act of kindness and the prayers that came from around the world for my child not to be severely brain damaged (while in the coma the doctors told me there was a real chance she could be severely brain damaged because of the trauma and the reports of her not breathing) all I can tell you is today my daughter is happy and a typical 22 year old woman.
Some believe Angels deliver messages of hope and provide ways to cope. To believe in them we must be open to the possibility that the world is full of wonderment and unexpected acts of forgiveness and kindness happen.I believe in Angels because my life’s journey has been full of unexpected acts of forgiveness, generosity, kindness and hope.
Whether you believe in Angels or not I challenge you to act like an Angel over the next 30 days.Don’t let the season end December 31. Give yourself the miracle of forgiveness. Forgive yourself for not being the perfect parent, sibling, spouse/significant other or employee/employer. Or forgive yourself because you didn’t do or say something that now you regret. Forgive yourself because you weren’t enough. We all know enough.Not strong enough, conscious enough, smart enough, beautiful enough, quick enough or oh well you get the point.
Witnessing an Angel means being open to see and appreciate the wonderment that exists all around us.To experience an Angel means looking for everyday miracles.Be an Angel for yourself.Forgive yourself.
Enjoy the holiday season. Enjoy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice and/or the beginning of a New Year.To everyone – my wish for you is that you experience an Angel, live a life of abundance and slow down and appreciate.
