Posted in Christianity

Monday was the Feast Day of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (and also my husband's birthday). Yesterday was the Feast of the Guardian Angels (and also the twins' birthday).  I was reading a priest's blog and he shared a story about a missionary to Burma being saved by an angel.  Here's the link if you want to read it.  So that got me thinking that I would like to blog about angels a bit.

I have been asked before what the Scriptural basis is for belief in guardian angels.  It is the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:10, "See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven."  When our children get scared at night, we always tell them that their Guardian Angel is right there with them and that really helps.

I know of at least two times that my guardian angel has saved me from harm. The first time was when I was a teenager. I was going to do something really bad (forgive me for not sharing details - you never know when someone might pick me as their vice-presidential running mate and I don't want it coming back to haunt me!).  I needed to reach over and pick something up in order to do it. However, I physically could not do it.  I could move my arm in that direction but then it was like I hit a wall and could go no farther.  But there was nothing (visible) there.  I was very confused, and so I just went to sleep.  I now understand that my guardian angel was there, physically blocking me from doing what I had planned.

The second time I was very upset about something (sorry - the whole VP thing again! I'm not a hockey mom, but I am a ballet mom.  However, I don't wear lipstick...) and I went for a drive.  My oldest son was a baby at the time and was in the car with me.  I really like driving, and it was my favorite form of therapy until I realized how STUPID it was to drive when you're upset.  I was out in the country in the dark, on a road I had never driven before, and the speed limit was 50 mph.  I was busy being upset when all of a sudden, it seemed like someone had said, "Look at that sign!"  I had never before paid attention to the suggested speed limit on a curve (it is a suggestion, right?).  I saw the sign said 25 mph for the curve coming up, and I thought, "Wow, if the speed limit is 50 and they are suggesting 25 for the curve, it must be a really serious curve!" Immediately I began braking and slowed down considerably before getting to the curve.  Right after I slowed down, a car coming from the other direction too quickly did not make the curve, went across both lanes and off of the road.  The point at which the car crossed my lane was the point I would have been at had I not started braking!  I truly believe that accident would have killed both my son and me. It must have been my guardian angel who got my attention which made me slow down.

In less serious matters, whenever I have asked my guardian angel to wake me up for something important, I have always woken up at the right time. I guess angels are more reliable than babies as alarm clocks!  I know there are countless ways that my angel has helped me and I can never say thank you enough! I do ask my children's guardian angels to protect them and to help them as well. 

I have a book called Under Angel Wings that is a true story of a girl who became a nun.  For most of her life, her guardian angel was visible to her and helped her avoid sin and make sacrifices.  Under obedience to her superiors, she wrote these experiences down so that they could be helpful to others.

If you have had an experience with an angel, I'd love to hear about it!  Leave a comment!