Angel

What a week of lovely surprises this has been! First ENC (Kiel's college) called RWC (my job) and asked about giving Kiel the tuition waiver this semester. The financial aid person went to great lengths to track me down in the midst of the craziness of move-in-orientation-faculty-workshop-retreats-teaching. He asked me some information, and I said that I'm not supposed to be eligible until I have worked six months - that would be next semester.

His response: "If ENC is willing to give it to him I am not going to question it." Wow! What a bonus for Kiel!

Then Drew's school emailed me and said they had received additional scholarship monies, and had reviewed my records and they are going to give Drew a small scholarship. Wow again! God is opening up the blessings and I am so happy to receive them.

A streak? Well, today my vacuum broke. I sighed and added it to the shopping list.

Drew: 5 polo shirts, 2 pair of jeans.
House: 1 vacuum.
Groceries.

Despite my best efforts, it took a grueling hour and a half to get stuff and bring it all home. I'm not a shopping groupie. I needed to hurry since I had promised to be at the library for closing because its such a new procedure and last night it didn't go exactly smoothly.

We hustled as we carted the goods up those dozen steps to the apartment building, struggled with keys only to find someone had left the door propped open again. I grabbed the mail, and headed for our door. Drew saw it first. Just to the left of the door under our welcome sign sat a small square box. I wasn't expecting anything. Drew picked it up. He puzzled over the unfamiliar address. From my brother and his new wife in New Hampshire.

Inside, we set things down and opened the package. How exciting to get something out of the blue! For no particular reason! I must admit I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the new things at work, settling the household, getting Kiel off to college, and now accepting the conducting job at the church and realizing I have just one short week to do a semester of planning. What a boost this present brings in the midst of hecticity (OK, so I made up a word).

I slid the paper off the cardboard box, and flipped the flap open. I wiggled the styrofoam packaging out of the box and untaped the two sides. Nestled securely between the two halves was a beautiful Willow Tree praying angel, her wings looping gently around her back, her hands folded, praying. I love it. Its so indicative of this whole week coming and going.

First I prayed for help, then God sent me wonderful gifts, then I prayed to thank Him, then another problem to come to Him with, then this lovely gift to remind me that prayer changes - everything. Not because I say the right words in the right way. Not because I speak in a beautiful cathedral with the candles all lit. Not because its what we do before meals and bedtime.

But because my whole day is one continual conversation with God, as if He is hovering beside me all day long, ready to talk, ready to intervene, ready to listen. How arrogant of me to think God has nothing better to do than listen to my complaining, my whining, my occasional thank you, my list of requests. And yet.

And yet. And yet He does. He loves me as if I were His only child. He loves everyone that way. Even when I am not fun to be around. Even when I don't act much like His daughter. Even when I don't do the things He asks me to do.

I have one other Willow Tree angel. She sits on my bookshelf at work. She makes the sign language gesture for love, hands folded across her chest. She reminds me to love everyone who steps into my office, no matter what.

I will put this new angel on my nightstand to remind me - that God is a mere whisper away. To help, to love, to bless, to hear. Now more than ever I need to remember that.