I fully know that not all of my blog followers are Christians and frankly many ideas of Christianity these days are not how I view it or how I believe it should be.  Please don’t stop reading now.  I promise this post is not preachy or anything like that.  However, I believe there is wisdom in the Bible and I’m going to start by sharing the following verse:

Hebrews 13:1-3 “Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”

This verse has held weight for me throughout my life.  You see, I’ve hit bottom a few times.  Rock bottom to be fair and usually by my own doing.  But, I didn’t stay there and the reason was angels.  Some of you may think I’m crazy and may not believe.  Some of you may know exactly what I mean.   I fully recognize there is a wide spectrum of belief.  

The angels I refer to are not the Clarence Odbody type that you see in “It’s a Wonderful Life”.  They walk among us.  Most of them don’t even recognize they are angels themselves, but undoubtedly they are. I would venture to say that these souls, although worldly in every sense, fulfill a much greater purpose. They knowingly or unknowingly allow themselves to carry out work far greater than themselves when others need it most. In my opinion, they are God’s Angels, but you can classify them however you feel led.  Regardless, I want to ask a few questions. “How many of you have experienced an “angel” in your own life or seen them at work? How many of you have seen this kind of love in action?  I would be very surprised if it hasn’t happened to everyone in some way.  As for me, I’m forever grateful to those that have provided my own rescue and I’ve let them know in some way.  Hopefully a way that was meaningful to them as well. 

As I bring today’s reflection to a close I think it’s not only good for us to be vehicles of love, but in the basic human sense it should be our responsibility. Many of us know prisoners, not literally, but possibly figuratively. In so many ways, we all are in prison to something or have been at one time.

 So, how do you help? How do you share the burden? And, do you take the time to see injustice and mistreatment? Do you have the courage to call it out and take a stand? Or, do you simply have the compassion to love through it all in a way that you become an angel yourself?  Deep questions I know, but some to think about. 

Each and every day gives us an opportunity toward improvement.  One of the areas I’m constantly trying to improve upon is to be an example of what I hold deep inside in a way that others think there is something different about me in a good way.  I know I don’t always achieve that goal, but I try.  In many ways I try to be more like the angels that have helped me.  I hope as we close this week and head toward the weekend you’ll join me on this adventure. 

Be well, be safe, be loved!

Photo Credit: An Angel peaking through the clouds at Lower’s Shay’s Revenge, Snowshoe, WV