I Know an Angel

I know an angel.  His name is Joshua.  He is my son. 

When my wife was about 29 weeks pregnant with Josh she went in for a routine ultra sound at which time it was discovered that Joshua had an extremely fast heart rate.  The doctors were uncertain how long Josh had been having this problem but with further tests it was discovered that he already had fluid around his little heart and in his lungs.  My wife was admitted immediately to the hospital and began to take a variety of medications in an attempt to control Josh’s heart.  After about a month of being hospitalized and basically confined to a bed in order to monitor our baby’s heart, my wife was released home with Josh’s heart now under control with just the right amount and combinations of medications.  Had my wife not gone in for that routine ultra sound on that day, it is certain Josh would have been a stillborn child. 

Since this moment until today Josh has had bouts with hospitalizations due to irregular heart rates but in every instance we have seen miracles to preserve Josh’s life.  He continues to bless our lives with his abundant and evident love for life and all others.  At two years old he is quick to offer a big smile and loves to hug others including strangers.  He truly brightens everyone’s day.      

My purpose in sharing this story is that I believe less obvious situations like this happen on a routine basis.  I believe each of us is here for a purpose and each of us is preserved by the hand of God in one way or another at different times in our lives so that we can be angels to each other.  Often we are not aware of how our divine father is saving and preserving us, allowing us to remain on this earth, but I know it happens.  It happened with my son. The questions we need to all ask ourselves is, why are we here and are we doing what we are meant to be doing on this earth? 

If we feel the answer to this last question is perhaps “no” that we may not be doing what we are meant to be doing then we need to search and diligently ask our divine creator what our purpose is and then have the faith to do it.  It may require sacrifice, it may require a change, it may require us to leave our comfort zone. 

When Josh reaches a certain weight and age he should be able to have a procedure that completely cures his heart from any more problems.  He will then grow and mature like anyone else and his heart problems and near death experiences will be forgotten or at least not known by the majority of people he will interact with.  He will appear and be just like everyone else.  I believe we are surrounded by angels just like Josh every day. Did you ever stop and think that perhaps the person across form you is a cancer survivor, or scarcely avoided a tragic car accident this morning, or had a life threatening situation in their childhood but are now standing in front of you without any signs of having such problems? How would our attitude toward them change if we saw them in their predicament and time of need?  Unfortunately, we don’t see each other in this way.  All we see is the person today who stands in front of us but the truth is, we are all angels preserved by the hand of God to be here and to help each other.

I know that life does have a purpose.  See the angels around you and be an angel.  There is a purpose they are here and there is a purpose you are here.  Live life in a purposeful way.  Do what you alone are meant to do!