Angel looked down once more at her flock, shook her head sadly, and thought--I must return to them again. They are not doing well at all.Perhaps if they could see me as I really am, they would respond differently to their lives. Even though I wrap my wings around them, and whisper comfort in their ears, they fail to respond---they are lost in their own misery and fears.How can I reach them? There is that lovely girl, who worries incessantly about her weight, the boy who no one accepts because of his disability, the dad who cannot find a job, and so many who have simply lost their faith somewhere along the way. I must find a way to raise them from their unhappiness back into the light----but how? I am just a lowly angel.
Then, a thought occurred to Angel---she would allow them to see her, not as a human, but as an angel--born of light and goodness, a spiritual being, and she would tell them there is so much more to live---and to die for. But first I must seek permission. Hm-m-m-m, probably not going to happen--He doesn't like us showing off and up like that---too many imposters have given us a bad name. It seems ostentatious, almost cheesy to show up as if to say---hey, look at me---I'm an angel No, her idea to return as an angel would never fly, so to speak. She would have to think of something else.
A few weeks later, the world was celebrating Christmas---it was announced that in the very noble and historical interest of dividing church from state, there would be no displays of religious themes, songs, or church services---any where.The world had become completely secular, free from all religious trappings. There were still decorations, fun winter songs and plays like "The Nutcracker".But no mention of Christ, or the reason for his birth.
Christmas day, dawned bright and sunny all around the world---Angel had been working very hard. She had a plan, and she prayed that it would work to ease the burdens of those that would see something they had never seen before.
Angel was somewhat of an artist--of cloud arranging. The clouds were all stacked and ready to go, to be formed into one huge sky portrait. There were white clouds, and pink clouds, and grey clouds---all fluffy and soft. As she moved them into one huge pile, over the area of her flock, she quickly began to shape, sculp, and weave the clouds into one fabulous image-----When she was finished, the result was magnificent-----a choir of angels and in the middle, a large figure with his arms outstretched. Angel was so pleased with herself---she looked down at earth and saw to her devastating surprise that no one was paying any attention.The scene could only be seen from heaven's perch.
Frustrated and sad, she went to her Father----how can I show them we love them, and that they are in your hands? What can we do? The Father looked at the angel and said: "You are doing all you can by yourself----perhaps you should look for some earthly assistance."Have you heard of earth angels? Look for them---they exist, and are looking for ways to help."
And so she did---she deputised them by whispering in their ears while they were asleep, that they could make a difference. And so, even though they did not know it, they became part of Angel's army. She managed to cross their paths with those who were in need. The angel helpers gave comfort, aid, encouragement, love, and loyalty to all they met---and little by little the world became a little better place. The girl with the weight problem was befriended by one of them who told her to love herself for herself, and not how she looked; the boy no one liked suddenly found another boy who felt the same way, and a man who had lost his faith, one day wandered alone into a church. Beside himself with grief, sadness, and disillusionment, he sank to his knees, surrendered his doubts, prayed, and began to feel the lightness of believing again. Angel and her army were busy beacons of help during this time and in the dark of someone's night; and everyone they helped, helped someone else. To this day, they are everywhere, and show up unexpectedly just when you might need a helping hand, or an angel's touch.
But the following Christmas, the angel, undaunted, decided to try the cloud trick again --- this time, she wisely asked for some heavenly help. She recruited as many angels as she could, and then she asked God to assist----duh! Why had she not done this before? Sometimes, even angels get ahead of themselves. God doesn't always say yes,but He adored this angel. She was perky, persistant, even pesky, and, well, just a little theatrical. She never took no for an answer and she thought all things were possible--even a heavenly production. He had taught her well. And so He agreed to her rather dramatic plan, and together He and all the angels flipped the newly sculpted cloud over---and there it was---this absolutely gorgeous view of a heavenly choir, with breathtaking peeks beyond the clouds of pink mansions, golden streets and landscapes beyond imagination. Then suddenly God himself appeared and said " Behold, I am the Amighty, everlasting God, your Father. There are no other Gods before me. You are my people, and I sent my son, Jesus Christ, to show you the way home. It's as simple as that, and much more complicated than you may ever know. Believe---and love one another". And then, He disappeared. The clouds began to swirl and blur the entire montage, until they were once again only clouds.
The people stood dumfounded---what had just happened? Was it real, or was it some sort of weather phenomena? But there had been music as well--beautiful, peaceful music. It had filled their senses and made them weep. Eventually everyone dispersed and returned to their homes. They told everyone what they had seen and heard---but nobody believed them. It was just too much--and terribly politically incorrect. Christmas was no longer thought of as religious, and was not to be spoken as such in public. And so the miracle in the clouds gradually became only a story that the people who had witnessed it told only a precious few---and even they who had seen it began to think it had been a mirage, or some kind of group illusion brought on by too much dust and pollution. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency, and now supposedly in charge of the entire world's climate) even took it upon themselves to build a new forest of wind mills in that particular area, and began research on how to rid the sky of so many clouds, which were interfering with the capturing of the sun's rays, to say nothing of this ridiculous story of a heavenly vision. The next thing you know, they said, people will begin to believe in angels.
The angel once again despaired-- She went to her Father and said, "What can we do to make them see the glory and the wonder, God?" God said---"In good time, my child, in good time. It is all around them. They look, but they don't see. They hear, but they do not listen. They must first open their hearts." The angel said,"How does that happen, Lord?" The Lord smiled and said, "I have people working on that---and you are one of them. The angel began to weep and gazed adoringly at her God----"I am your servant, my Lord, I will keep trying, but some of them are so lost---please find a way to bring them all home." The Lord smiled at his dear angel--- "You are getting a little ahead of yourself again. Now, be an angel, and go tend to your flock---they need you, and time is running out".
It happened that the next Christmas, in a certain town, on a certain day, a few people looked up at the sky and saw a most unusual cloud formation----there seemed to be a group of letters that drifted and gathered until they read----"Merry Christmas!! Love, Your Guardian Angel." One of the onlookers swore he saw something that resembled an angel perched on top of the highest letter of the highest cloud. She was smiling as she threw a kiss---twirled around once---and took a bow.
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