We
see them as winged messengers, companions, comforters and guardians thanks to
the artist’s vision and the poet’s lyrical description. But angels, in reality,
can be quite different!
I’ve
said this before, and I’ll probably say it a thousand times more – hubby loved
Christmas. It soon became a tradition with us to acquire at least one new decoration
to mark each Christmas that we shared. Nieces
and nephews chipped in and added to our growing cache with the loveliest
baubles from far and near. Each year,
these would be unwrapped and placed on the tree or mantelpiece and, after Christmas,
lovingly cleaned, rewrapped, and replaced in their special containers, as good
as new. We knew each and every decoration, their provenance and recalled the
memories with joy. It’s now almost three years since hubby bid goodbye and
Christmas will never be the same because the significance of our ‘little collection’
was in the sharing, as was the urge to add yet another piece. I let everyone
know, accordingly. Yet, somehow, from an
unexpected somewhere, a fresh Christmas memory has faithfully arrived!
Apparently
my own special angel is doing overtime on the job. And earthbound angels are being
equally industrious in making the connection!
This
year I have received (yes, already!) an adorable snowman. He’s a cookie jar, as
fragile as the ‘snow’ he’s made of. He
will not melt, but he can break. Yet he
made it across the miles from Canada, carefully transported in a suitcase
thanks to one of the many angels in my life.
And
this angel plays the harp (read drums and keyboard) too, with glorious rhythm
and melody!
So,
when October 2 comes around, I’ll be whispering a special prayer for angels
seen and unseen, known and unknown – a thanksgiving prayer for the gentle
benison their presence brings.
