Rejoice: Your life is touched by angels

We are surrounded by an innumerable company of angels.

With ears and eyes of faith, we can almost hear and see them whispering encouragement, protecting us from danger and performing little day-to-day miracles. Their messages of hope are always within our hearts. All we have to do is pay attention to them.

I will never forget an incident that a friend of mine told me of a dear grandmother who almost lost her 4-year-old granddaughter. The little girl was very sick in the hospital with a high fever.

When the distraught grandmother walked into the child’s hospital room, she tried to put on a brave face, yet within she was torn apart.

But the tiny girl looked up from her bed with a wondrous look on her sweet face. “Grandma,” she whispered, “Do you see the angels?”

The grandmother looked around the room and asked, “Where?”

Her granddaughter’s blue eyes went straight to the corner of the room. “Over there,” she said in a sweet angelic voice, “Aren’t they beautiful … they are swaying back and forth.”

Together, they sat side by side. The room was serenely quiet, as the girl continued, “The angels want me to come and play with them. They are so beautiful.”

Such a great revelation of God’s love enveloped the grandmother that she put her head down on the girl’s hospital bed and wept.

A few days later, through the family’s tears, prayers and by the grace of God’s miracle, the child was restored back to perfect health.

Afterward, they told some of their close family and friends how their daughter mysteriously saw angels appearing in her hospital room.

A month later, the little girl was at the grandmother’s home. Two of the grandmother’s longtime neighborhood friends visited. At one point, they questioned the happy grandmother, “Does your granddaughter remember seeing the angels?”

The grandmother nodded politely. There was an indescribable feeling of tranquility and peace surrounding them.

The young girl overheard the conversation. Fueled with enthusiasm, she replied with a beautiful smile, “Of course, I remember the angels … they went and got Jesus, and He made me all better.”

The grandmother smiled at her in agreement and her hand caressed the girl’s long golden-brown ringlet curls. With the eyes of pure faith, the girl cheerily declared, “Angels are around us!”

I’m reminded of the quote from St. Francis De Sales, “Make yourself familiar with the angels and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you.”

At this joyous season, let the examples of heavenly angel messengers light our paths so we can walk by their examples and be earthly angels to others. For Hebrews 13:2 tells us, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing, some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

That sweet embrace of love can be found in a neighbor who generously brings dinner to a family in need; health care workers who help to bring healing; a teacher who gives hope and inspiration to young students; or volunteers who unselfishly donate their time.

Angels, whether celestial or human, give us reason to believe in the triumph of goodness and make this earth a more heavenly place to be.

Regardless of who you are or where you are now, you can be another person’s “angel.” Someone needs you. Show appreciation and thanks to those around you. Offer hospitality, care and compassion.

Look for ways to love and serve. Simply speaking kind and encouraging words and offering some sincere compliments can spread positivity and uplift others.

God bless you and your loved ones on this holy Christmas.