Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
As a child I was told not stories of superheroes or comics, but about an angel that guards me permanently. My mother taught me to say the prayer every morning as I left for the school bus stop, I stood near the altar at home, folded my hands in prayer and said it out loud with my mother supervising. As I grew older, I began mumbling it under my breathe as I walked to my bus to college or ran to my car as a reflex and more often I say it after I sit in the car as I fasten my seat belt.. the habit stuck and so did my child like belief in that one angel who watches over me!!
3 years ago, one morning my dad and housemaid were busy cleaning through the coconuts and leaves in the garden to find a tiny shiny furry white big eyed pot bellied kitten! While my dad was amused , he was fascinated how clean n furry the kitten was, so as acceptable, we took in the stray and put out the word for its owners with our local method of telling my neighbors! Mind you, my parents had just lost their cat 1 month ago! Soon we heard, this kitty belonged to a small boy that lived up the street and tagged along with him for the customary house visits with Mother Mary statue occurring at our home. The kitty fell asleep and lost itself in the garden( my theory)!!
Over the week that it took to find the owner, my parents grew extremely fond of this furball and my mother , the ever so communication expert, convinced the kid how it would be a wise decision to let an elder couple adopt the cat child. Of course the child fell for her words ! ( she is that convincing!) and hence began the story of my KITTY!
Through the pandemic and my dads cancer saga, the only constant my parents had was my cat! While they came home to a bundle of floof and joy, he was visibly anxious when my parents left home during dads treatment and vice versa! The joy and love he brings to my parents is unsurmountable – they are calmer, have so many more strays being regularly fed since him. He sat through dad post chemo and surgery and still does! Has absolute no regard for personal space and wants to have a physical contact with anyone around before he nods off to sleep. While he is the only pet we have had who absolutely agrees with my fathers daily routine – he even follows it when dad isnt around!
As today is the celebration of angels and the joy and protection they provide us, I know my cat was left behind by mama Mary as she left my home for she knew my dad would need his special someone ( more than us) and I know in my heart that deep down he is my dads guardian angel in living form!!!! The joy and love he radiates and the sense of protection he has when he snoozes next to my father – makes my dad feel more safe and happy! I would never have seen my father be so cheerful after a round of chemo when he would meet his partner in crime as we stepped into the house!! It is indeed a blessing!
While we all have an assigned guardian angel as we were baptised and they watch us make our ways through life! I think we need to have serious conversation with our own angel- about or choices, decisions, meetings, the company we enjoy and above all our prayer life! We all have that imaginary friend in the angel and at times I imagine them being so amused by our antics!
Today let us meet if not already have , our guardian angel, say a nice prayer for their guidance not just when we drive or travel ( like my mom says) but when you are at cross roads about any decision! We need to let God guide us with small gestures and learn to follow with His plan!
PRAYER:
Oh my guardian angel, I thank you for being patient and protective of me. I pray for your guidance in my daily decisions and request your unwavering support to help me follow on the right path! Amen.
