“For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”—Psalm 91:11–12
Those angels are all around us…. I’m Pam Lundell, and you may know that my first husband, John, was called home to heaven in 2005. That was many years ago, but I remember the first few moments and days when life changed completely and I didn’t know how I would survive. Thankfully, I was blessed with loving family and friends that surrounded me and did things to help that I didn’t know about in my fog until later. I do remember receiving a package one morning on my front step. I opened it and it was this small, beautiful royal blue velvet box. I carefully lifted the top and tucked inside their cozy satin holders were three crystal angels. One holding a tiny gold hymnal, one with a small violin, and another with a little trumpet. There was a wind-up on the back that played the most beautiful melody. The card said it was from my niece Martha.
It was so beautiful and touching. I put those angels on my nightstand for months, eventually moving them to a shelf where I saw them every day. The years went by, and their presence made me smile each time I saw them.
Then something happened, and I knew the angels were needed elsewhere. My niece Martha’s husband, Joel, had been battling cancer for a long time and was in hospice earlier this year. Joel is a decorated member of the armed services with several high-level tours under his belt and in early May was called home to heaven.
I made a date to meet with Martha last week, telling her I had something for her. I boxed up my guardian angels and put them with tissue into a bright gift bag. As she unwrapped the velvet box, I saw recognition and tears in her eyes. As we hugged, I told her they had kept their watch over me, and now it was time for them to watch over her as a new young widow missing her soldier. Joel the hero was laid to rest this past weekend. Martha’s soldier is in heaven, and the angels have taken up their watch.
