Ever feel like you have that someone special in your corner who's praying for you, encouraging you, or watching over you? I've known many people who feel like they have that special connection with a family member or friend who has passed away; a guardian angel of sorts. Knowing that they loved us when they were here on earth helps us feel connected even after they are gone.
This morning I was getting ready to attend a ladies' luncheon sponsored by my church. As I was getting dressed I reached in my jewelry box and was deciding on a pair of earrings. I went with the red ones, lol; they matched the blouse I was wearing. I went to grab a necklace and was drawn to a special one that I have. My grandmother's wedding rings on a silver chain. I put my glasses on to read the engraving on the inside of the band again ... her wedding date back in 1927. Wow, here we are in 2017, meaning that the rings are now 90 years old. Whenever I wear the necklace I feel closer to my grandmother. I feel connected. I feel like she is watching over me.
The luncheon, today, was for a ministry called 'Secret Angels'. At the beginning of the year every woman in the church had an opportunity to participate for the upcoming year by filling out a questionnaire with some of their likes, their hobbies, their interests, their favorite colors, their birthday, and any prayer requests they had for stuff that was going on in their life. 28 women chose to participate this year. Each lady was 'secretly' assigned to another lady. We would send anonymous cards of inspiration, letters of encouragement, and occasional gifts to brighten their day. I knew who I would be praying for during the upcoming year, but didn't know who I would be receiving items from. It's been joyous, it's been uplifting, and it's been fun. We spend most of our days focusing on the things we need to do; working at our jobs, building our relationships, and taking care of our responsibilities. It's nice to be able to spend some time focusing solely on someone else; someone who appreciates and looks forward to what we have to offer and expects absolutely nothing in return. They don't even know WHO we are.
I was blessed with a Secret Angel this past year who didn't really know me in the beginning, but became inspirational to me. The little gifts were appreciated; they were nice surprises that made me feel special ... but it was the notes, the prayers, and the poems that arrived in the mail at JUST the right time. The words gave me the encouragement I was craving and made me feel special. I only hope that I had as much of an impact on the lady I focused on during the year. Today was all about revealing our identities. There were moments of surprise, there was laughter, and even a few tears.
If you ever have an opportunity to be part of something special like this you really should. Yes, it is a commitment and yes, you'll have to finish what you start ... but, it'll be well worth it. You'll make a friendship, you'll learn life lessons, and you'll want to sign up for another year.
Having a guardian angel is something very special, but sometimes our angels are right here nearby and we don't even know it.
Something to remember; we don't always have to wait for others to notice us, our talents, or even our needs. Sometimes we have the ability and the power to create our own destiny. We can forge our own path based on our choices. We can earn our own fortunes by working hard and with integrity and a positive spirit. We can create our own good luck, rather than waiting for it to drop at our feet. And with a simple yellow highlighter and a black Sharpie pen we can create our own little ray of sunshine. It may not give us physical warmth, but it will definitely rejuvenate us and lift us mentally. My little mental reminder was provided courtesy of a friend.
