My Angel Unaware
I am male. Being male, I know I miss some things, like hints, subtle hints, not so subtle hints, and neon lit sign hints. As a woman or even as a man, surely you understand what I mean.
Now I believe that God created me as a male, and having created me, he surely understands me best. I simply don’t take hints. I easily miss these finer points of human communication.
So when it was time to send me my angel unaware, God didn’t send a stranger to my door. He knew I probably would have left them standing there.
God was smarter than that. He was kinder than that, and, as usual much more loving than that. God sent me my mother.
Was my mother a literal angel come down from heaven just for my family? No. As a child and even more now as a parent, I was aware that she had some flaws. But more than anyone else in my life, she surely comes the closest to true angelic status.
When it comes to connecting me with my Christian faith, no one else can compare. Certainly my first glimpse of unconditional love, love undeserved, forgiveness unmerited, grace that just keeps coming, knowing me at my worst and loving me anyway, that was from my mother.
And now as my mother declines with old age, as she is slowly robbed of intellect, memory, mobility, strength and even dignity, this is my time. Now is my opportunity to honor her, to love her unconditionally, with patience, with steadfastness, knowing her for who she is, even as she forgets.
As I prepare to lose her in this time and place, I accept it, because I believe as she does, that her next life will be eternal, in a place free from sorrow and pain. After all, if God sent her to me, I know he will want her back.
We have so many things we should be grateful for, but we’re usually too busy to stop and reflect on them. So I offer you these thoughts to consider, and then to give thanks for, if you feel blessed.
Who has followed the second greatest commandment and loved you as much as they would love themselves? Who has reflected the love of God into the darker parts of your life and given you a hope that will not fade away? Who have you hurt, lied to, mistreated, and ignored, and their response was to love you anyway? Who has been your angel unaware?
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2 K JV).
