Angel Path
My dear friend and I were talking about the people who made a life-changing impact on our lives and the directions we inevitably followed. She plans to build a garden walk with each person’s name, who touched her, engraved on one of the stepping stones. It started me thinking of the turning points in my life and the angel traffic cops who directed me to take a certain path…
For my friend, it was a woman who noticed her, when she was just a wisp of a child, crying because she didn’t get her own room in the family’s summer cabin. The woman turned to my friend and assured her that, “Someday, you, too, will have your own room.” And that stranger, in that moment, gave her the emotional hug and reassurance she needed. My friend believed her. Interestingly, she’s now a great real estate person and loves creating lovely spaces for people to inhabit. Kismet?
One of my angels was an “old” professor (probably much younger than I am now!) who saw in me the intelligence and curiosity that I had buried deep inside. He used to hand back our tests in the order of who did the best. I will never forget him heading up the stairs to me (it was a tiered classroom) and handing me my graded test. He looked straight in my eyes and, with deep sincerity, said “Believe in yourself.” I was at the cusp of changing directions in my life, though I didn’t realize it then, and his trust stayed with me. I believed him. And I credit Dr. Skelton (are you still out there?) for allowing me to see myself as the academic I became.
One of my dearest friends, JoJo, who is truly now an angel having “transitioned” (her term!) a few months ago to her spiritual heaven, had the ability to reach out and touch so many people in such amazing ways, each of us (and were lots of us!) thought she was our best friend…not realizing she was able to share her deep love with so many! She was truly a “hug catcher,” each of her hugs filled me up for a week with unconditional love, strength and caring. I’m imagining she has many angel steps in people’s spiritual gardens…
Like the movie, “Playing It Forward,” I try to bring a Jojo hug to each person I encounter, particularly if they’re in the need for a spiritual recharge. I will never have her magic, but hey, a well-timed hug is never a bad thing.
I’m sure you can recall certain people who touched you, maybe for a minute, maybe for longer, who helped you turn a corner in your life. You have been hugged by an angel…lucky you! Can you pass it on? Perhaps a loving hand placed on a shoulder, maybe an encouraging thought, a hand squeeze, can be all that’s needed to help that child, that person, that friend believe in themselves enough to stretch for hope.