Monday, May 5, 2014

A Mother's Angel Visit


Can you spot the Angel in this photo? Okay, I'll admit it—I'm an Angel Junkie. I believe there are Angels all around us, nurturing us along & whispering in our ears, not only to provide wisdom & protection but also to lead us toward joy. I've lost track of how many times a song came on at the grocery store that was just what I needed to hear, or a book fell off the shelf that gave my heart solace or opened up a whole new journey for me. I've even seen strangers who seemingly popped out of nowhere to say a few discerning words or dispense almost unearthly advice—and I later wondered if they were Angels. If you've ever read my post "Angels Among Us" (you can click on it here), then you already know I believe I've had some direct contact with otherworldly assistance. Not because I was seeking it out (I don't attend Angel channeling seminars or meditate on archangels), but simply because my mother had always taught me, as Shakespeare once said, that "There are more things in heaven and earth...than are dreamt of in your philosophy." In other words, she encouraged us to be open to ideas that sometimes bypass the limitations of our brains & can only be understood in the heart.


And one thing my mother ardently believed is that joy not only attracts Angels but every good thing in your life. Where she got all this wisdom was a mystery to me as a child, but as I grew older and learned, bit by bit over the years, more about her, I found out exactly why she was so wise. My mother's father abandoned her family in the Midwest when she was a baby, and her own mother died at the age of 42 of alcoholism. My mother's childhood was spent in poverty being tended to by strangers in bars during the Great Depression, and life for her was very tough. Never once did I hear her complain about her childhood, however, because in her eyes, she saw her relatives as broken people who were doing everything they could—and not many people had it much better back then. Yet the one thing my mother learned early on to survive was to tap in to that "still, small voice" that always led her to a more positive journey. This was long before New Age philosophy entered the picture or you could watch Oprah talking to cutting-edge spiritual pundits on TV. As a result, my mother's "spiritual radar" was finely tuned. She was downright spooky in her ability to "read" everyone she met, and if she ever gave you advice you damn well listened because her perceptions were uncanny. The closest thing I've ever seen to someone like my mother was that wonderful woman in the kitchen baking cookies who turned out to be the great Oracle in the film The Matrix. Seemingly a benign housewife, she's the one who knows far more about Neo's (Keanu Reeves) situation & future than he does—and luckily, he's smart enough to recognize a highly-developed soul when he sees one.


So even though my mother's body was later in life racked by a debilitating auto-immune disorder & advanced arthritis, I wish I could impart to you the way her face SHINED. People came from all around just to be near her & to fill up their weary spirits. Our kitchen was always packed with visitors because every one who left my mother's presence felt stronger, brighter, and more able to see their path forward because of her strength & glow. Yet she was no namby pamby woman who spouted limp-wristed cliches like "Have a nice day." She was as strong as a military general with a soaring heart to match—because every day she talked to her Angels. Not in moans & complaints but in celebration. Yes, we were that peculiar family that ran around the house singing heart-bolstering songs and banging pots & pans & thanking God nearly every time we turned around for sunshine! Food! Health! And a fabulous new day! My mother didn't give a rip if anybody thought she was crazy town—she knew that like attracts like, what you say with your mouth will come to pass, and truly smart people invite Angels to their parties. Because above all, Angels love parties. 

As you can imagine, life with my mother was a BALL.


And I have no doubt that after my mother passed away, she became an Angel. In fact, during her life she was always looking forward to it. And yes, I even had a vision of her once in her new role. She appeared to me while I was in the kitchen baking cookies for holiday guests (how appropriate!) & no one else saw her but me. Yet her presence felt so natural that for a moment, like an idiot, I didn't register anything was unusual, though she'd been dead for over a year. That's because she didn't feel like a ghost at all—she radiated light & warmth. And when my brain suddenly kicked in & I recognized that this was a unique & sacred moment, I suddenly gasped, "Mother! The kingdom of God?" Those were the only words my stunned self could spit out—I wanted to know what it was like for her in Heaven or whatever dimension she went to. My mother merely smiled & replied with gusto, "You're going to love it!" before she disappeared. The overwhelming feeling I got from her is that she's very busy. She's an Angel now doing what she loves best—helping other people endure & shine brightly, only without the health restrictions that she had in her earthly life. And it didn't go unnoticed by me that she appeared during a time while I was baking & experiencing joy. That's what my mother imparted to me—that the path of delight is indeed the path of Angels. As she always said, "Never underestimate the power of joy. Every moment of laughter & dancing holds the seed of triumph & victory."

So while I was on a walk on a sunny spring afternoon recently near Mother's Day, feeling particularly happy for the warm weather & the sun on my back, I happened to look up in the sky & see a spontaneous Angel image in the clouds. Of course, I had to smile and say "thank you" for the Angel's gentle visit—because for all I know, it could be my own mother. And one of the things I'm most grateful for as we approach Mother's Day is the way my mother taught us to be open to serendipity—those random moments of sheer delight—for these are the pearls that we string together to make our lives  bright. I hope your Mother's Day will sparkle & be filled with those simple moments of sheer joy that open your heart to eternity.

If you would like to read my post about my mother's health miracle, click here.


P.S. Keep on the lookout this month for the debut of my new novel Stone of Thieves, the incendiary sequel to Robin in the Hood! After reading this post, now you know why I so often feature feathers & other reminders of Angels in my fiction <3


(Photo credit note: All images on my website are either my own or were gleaned from pictures in the public domains of facebook, pinterest, or other popular social networks. If you own the copyright to any of these images & do NOT want them used publicly, please contact me & I will take them down immediately! : )

8 comments:

  1. What a lovely post, Diane! I believe that living joyously attracts good things in your life, too. Thanks for sharing a part of you! Sounds like your mother was an amazing person! Hugs!

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  2. Thank you for visiting, Lana! Hope you feel Angel hugs around you today : )

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  3. I thoroughly enjoy hearing stories about your Mom, Diane. She was quite a lady ! The older and hopefully wiser that I become, the more I look for the serendipitous moments in life. Abby, Nate and I all love to look for shapes in the clouds too. Hugs and Happy Mother's Day to you !

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    1. Aw, wish I was with you guys to pick out shapes in the clouds—one of my favorite simple joys : ) Happy Mother's Day to you as well!

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  4. Thanks for sharing this story! Life is definitely full of misteries and joys!! :)

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    1. Yes, and those mysteries & joys make it all worthwhile! Thank you for visiting my page, Guiga! <3

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  5. What a beautiful and heartwarming post! Thank you for sharing your Mother and your Angels with us today!

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  6. Thank you so much, Jane! You are one of my angels—have a wonderful Mother's Day : )

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