I Believe in Angels

Angel of God,
My Guardian dear,
To whom God’s love
Commits me here.
Ever this day
Be at my side
To light. To guard.
To rule. To guide.

This simple prayer quickly earned a spot in Charlotte’s bedtime routine. She heard it every single night before I left the hospital and has heard it every night since she has been home. As a matter of fact, she started hearing it before she was even born.

Yesterday my family gained another guardian angel as my uncle Frank (dad’s older brother) passed away. When I first got word of his passing, my mind first went to his wife and children.

I remembered the feelings and emotions I felt when my dad died.

It hurt.
My heart hurt.
My head hurt.
My stomach hurt.

My heart ached for them…it still does.

Shortly after I got the news about Uncle Frank, I got an email from my mom that made my heart flutter. It was too good for me not to share.

For many years now, my Uncle Frank has had progressive dementia. A few days before his passing, one of his daughters was over at his house helping prepare a meal. At one point while she was there, she noted that her dad was just standing there talking to the wall. When she asked him who he was talking to he replied that (lump in my throat)…Paul was telling him that he needed someone to play catch with. Paul is my dad.

Though our hearts are heavy with the loss of such a wonderful man, it’s comforting to know that after 15 years apart, two brothers are together again. Their bodies are healed, their spirits are free. They can finally play catch again.

To steal some words from my sister…

“I don’t know how people can’t believe in God…He sure has shown us on plenty of occasions, happy and sad, that he’s here with us.” We love you Uncle Frank!