I don't know why I've had a little bit of blog block with this assignment. I just couldn't think of what I want to write about. So I did what the average internet user would do.
I Googled "Entertaining Angels". This story came up on many of the hits. I liked it. I thought I'd share the link (I can't copy it, because I don't have permission from the author, but please read it!)
In his editorial note at the end of this story, Jaye Lewis said, "'Entertaining Angels' is a true story which illustrates my belief that a life not shared with those less fortunate is no life at all."
Dictionary.com gives this definition of fortunate: having good fortune; receiving good from uncertain or unexpected sources; lucky
That made me ask myself this question: When have I received good from uncertain or unexpected sources?
I thought long and hard.
I mulled it over all day on Tuesday.
I pondered it all the way out to Camryn's school and back today.
I considered it a little while longer this morning while I was emptying the dryer.
I struggled to come up with SOME instance the entire time I was emptying and filling the dishwasher today.
I was prepared to write that I have never been on the receiving end of such kindness. I actually sat and typed a sentence to that effect, but I had to erase it, because God, who always sees what I type here, suddenly reminded me of the floods of kindness I have received in my life, the times I know that angels had me in their grasp, the times when I have received good from "unexpected" sources.
Though I don't remember it, I am frequently reminded by my mom that I fell down a long flight of concrete stairs when I was very young. I was, of course, shaken by the incident, but suffered no injuries from the fall.
When I was a teenager I passed out in a hotel bathroom. We had been on the beach for hours the day before, and I'd gotten extremely sunburned. I woke up dehydrated and dizzy. I went to the bathroom, and don't remember anything after I stood up to wash my hands until my dad came into the bathroom.
As is typical for hotel bathrooms, it was a small space. The sink and the tub were parallel to one another, with the toilet on the wall in between. I remember I was facing the sink, washing my hands, but I woke up laying on the floor between the sink and the toilet, as if I had turned 90 degrees before falling. It was if someone had caught me under the arms as I fell and laid me gently on the floor. Had I fallen backwards, I would've broken my neck when I hit the side of the tub. I know it was an angel that held me that day.
On my 2nd full day of classes at the University of Alabama, I decided I had chosen the wrong school. I wanted to go home and start over. I just didn't know how to do it.
I called home to talk to my mom, but I got my 15 year-old sister instead. I poured my heart out to her, and after doing so I felt a little better. I thought I could stay and tough out the semester. I made her swear not to tell my mom.
I opened up my mini fridge and took out a tub of pimiento cheese spread. I lifted the lid and noticed a Bible verse there. The verse was Isaiah 58:9. It says "you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I."
"Alright, God," I said silently. I told my roommate I was going to take a shower. In the shower I prayed for God to show me what to do.
I got back to my room and my roommate told me my mom had called, worried about me. I secretly cursed my loose-tongued sister.
I called Mom. She said, "What's wrong?"
"Why? What did Brooke tell you?" I said.
"Brooke? She hasn't told me anything. I just felt that something was wrong with you, so I called."
My mom is an angel. She and I calmly discussed everything I had to do to come home and find another school. I started at Samford University the next week with partial scholarships. God is good.
My 3rd child, Quinn, was born via c-section. He was breech, and I was given the choice of trying to turn him or going ahead with the surgery. I chose the surgery, even though everything in me was saying "try to turn him".
I'm glad I didn't listen to *my* voice. God's voice and peace helped me make the right decision. Quinn was born with the cord wrapped twice around his neck. Had he been turned, he might not have survived.
I have been ministered to by earthly angels, too.
Weeks of meals were brought to me and my family as each of my children was born. Those meals provided nourishment for us and rest for me.
The unselfish souls that take care of my children each week either in the nursery or the kids' Sunday school classes are angels. Without them I would be distracted during worship. Those sweet angels also serve to plant very important seeds of faith in my children's minds and hearts.
I have been calmed by unseen angels on airplanes. I am a nervous flyer, and God always provides me an angel to help distract me when I fly. Someone to talk to to get my mind off the flight.
God and his angels have kept me safe from many an accident. I am quick to thank God when there is a near miss with another car. Thank you, God, for the protection you provide through your unseen angels.
God has allowed me and my children to be angels as well.
I have had the joy of buying stamps for a woman who had to mail her power and water bills. She came to the post office prepared to buy stamps out of a machine that no longer dispense stamps. I gave her 2 of mine.
My daughter shared her toys with 2 impatient and misbehaving twin boys in a line once. She had just gotten the toys out of the prize box at the dentist's office, but she realized that the boys (and their mom!) needed the distraction the toys could provide more than she needed the toys.
Nahum 1:7 says, "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."
God is our refuge in times of trouble. Thank you, God, for sending help when we need it. Please remind us to ask for your help and to be responsive to your call when we need to assist you in being a refuge for someone else.
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