Ancestors, Angels & Autumn Leaves
Do you believe in angels? I do! I have had too many encounters with them to ever deny it. They have spoken comfort and saved my life. This autumn trip to a beautiful Wisconsin Cemetary reminded me that angels are among us.
While taking a drive to Sheboygan, Wisconsin last weekend, Dave and I took a detour to St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Mishicot, Wisconsin. One of Dave’s great-great uncles on his grandma Bertha Geerdts‘ side of the family is buried there and Dave felt impressed to go and see if he could find more relatives (which he did). As Dave looked around the cemetery, documenting more relatives’ graves, I took photos of the gorgeous fall leaves. There is something incredible about the feel of an old cemetery – especially with the exquisite autumn colors. It felt like a hallowed spot connecting the mortal world with the spirit world.
Angels Speak Comfort
This angel (in the photo above) stood out to me. I have been thinking a lot about angels recently – guardian angels in particular. As I think back over my life, I can think of several times where I know I had heavenly help getting out of one pickle or another. Sometimes words come into my mind from outside of me.
For example, the morning my second husband unexpectedly told me he wanted a divorce, I felt so devastated. As I knelt and prayed, I distinctly heard in my mind, “We’re setting you free. This is a blessing!” A feeling of peace and hope swept over me.
About three weeks later after my mother passed away, I heard, “Your life is about to get amazing with this new angel on your side.” And very quickly my life DID get amazing! It’s still amazing!
I felt angels with me as a 17-year-old lying in a ravine for a couple hours after a car wreck. I waited, my arm broken, a concussion, my front tooth knocked out, and wondering if I might have internal injuries. Would anyone even see me down the steep ravine? As I prayed, God, through His angels, spoke peace to my heart and mind and kept me company while I waited.
Guardian Angels Protect Us
A year later on my high school graduation day, one of my best friends and I ended up in another 15-foot embankment. Her car was making horrible noises and sounded like it would explode any minute. My passenger side door was jammed against the ground, so I went out between the seats, across glass, into the backseat, and out the back driver’s side door. My friend was unconscious and bleeding from head wounds, unresponsive to my suggestion that she turn off the engine.
As I got out, I touched her arm, which was resting on the open driver’s side window. “Come on, it’s going to blow!” I exclaimed, and I headed up the overgrown embankment. I looked back to make sure she was coming and saw her roll headfirst out the driver’s side window as if she were being pulled out.
The next thing I remember, we were both at the top of the embankment, walking down the road, trying to distance ourselves from the car. We sat on the edge of the road and waited for someone to find us. The car eventually did blow up about 15 minutes after we left the scene.
Sometime later, my friend told me that she thought I had pulled her out of the car. She was so dazed; she couldn’t even lift her arm to turn off the ignition. I did not pull her from the car, but someone did! I believe it was her guardian angels. I also believe my angels helped me up that ravine. It was steep and more than I could have handled on my own that fast. I felt almost propelled up that hill, so I know my friend had to have had help in her condition.
Interestingly enough, on our way home from Sheboygan, Dave and I were hit in a roundabout by a drunk driver who fled the scene. He ran into Dave’s side of the car. It could have been much worse. Dave is sore, but I am fine. Dave’s cousin’s car only sustained moderate damage. Miraculously, the drunk driver was apprehended shortly after and charged with 7 felony counts for driving under the influence on a revoked license in a car he stole from family members. Were angels protecting us? I believe they were!
Yes, I believe in angels. They are real. I have had too many interactions with them not to believe. Whether they’re giving us comfort, saving us from harm, or guiding us to a cemetery where we can find more loved ones, angels exist, and they have more influence on our lives than we can imagine.
You are not alone. You have heavenly help! They’re just waiting for us to pray and ask God to send them to our aid.
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he (Elisha) answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings 6:15-17
