Scars of My Guardian Angel

by Russell L Martin

  “What do you mean, where we come in?”

  “Dad, I received Rosie and took her in as my own, along with several others. Do you remember her calling me, ‘My Summer’?”

  “Yeah, I thought that was pretty sweet.”

  “Well I guess she’ll probably call you My Pawpaw Chado”.

  “You know, Sweetheart, I wouldn’t mind that at all. As a matter of fact she can call me whatever she likes. I actually fell in love with her when I first picked her up and held her.”

  I see Lori heading back the way we came in.

  “Follow us Dad, we’ll get a bit closer; I want you to see the miracle.”

  * * *

  We go back down the steps and make our way around the side until we’re standing only a few feet away from one of the portals. I watch the most amazing thing happen, right before my very eyes.

  The portal openings look like a sheet of water, favoring a thin membrane, and I can easily see through to the other side.

  Suddenly a beautiful Angel appears at the threshold just on the other side of the portal. She’s dressed in a brilliant white garment and there’s a glow that radiates, hovering around her with the appearance of purity and total peace.

  I feel the touch of Summer and Lori as they place their hands on my shoulder, with a soft whisper,

  “Watch closely Dad.”

  As the Angel reaches her hands out, I can now see in the palm of her hand, she’s holding a tiny unborn, undeveloped baby. Tears start to swell as I see the baby is in a fetal position as though to still be in the mother’s womb; it’s the size of a small bird and not moving.

  My eyes widen as the ancestor of this child’s bloodline reaches through the clear liquid with the Angel laying the tiny baby in her hands.

  My God, My God, the miracle takes place!

  Tears of joy fill my eyes as the ancestor very slowly pulls the undeveloped, aborted baby back through the portal, with almost the exact representation of natural birth.

  Out of chaos, from an evil world, this unwanted child is now resting in the arms of a loving ancestor as a fully developed baby. As the child takes her first breath, filling her lungs with the air of Heaven, she cries out with new life under the protection and love of God.

  I continue to watch as the ancestor walks past me, not looking up but staring into the face of her beautiful baby. This scene reminds me of when I gazed upon Summer as I held her for the first time. This special moment, seeing and holding new life and feeling a new love, and only at that very second really understanding that this gift of life was truly a gift from God.

  As I turn and look back through the portal, the Angel disappears with another taking her place, this constant flow seems to be never ending.

  “Come on Dad, we have something else you might like.”

  On our way out of the building, we walk past the hundreds of eager relatives lining up behind one another, and each time they hear the first cry of a newborn they lift their hands in praise and thanksgiving.

  The sounds of newborns crying echoing across this grand auditorium from each portal seem to blend with children’s choir creating an odd harmony that is completely soothing to the hearts of everyone here.

  As we exit through the side door, I feel the hand of Uriel on my shoulder as he whispers: “Now you know why God calls this place, The Hands of the Ancestors.”

  We follow the line of people heading over the arched crosswalk, and I notice how busy everyone seems to be.

  “Hey Summer, I see lots of people doing different jobs here in the Valley; what do you guys do to pass the time?”

  Lori and Summer smile, “Oh, we stay pretty busy; Dad, we teach school.”

  “You’re both teachers?”

  “Well, not like teachers on Earth, we teach the little ones the ways of God. When they come here God gives them knowledge way beyond a normal kid back on Earth, and that alone makes our job pretty easy. I guess when it comes down to it, we help with decisions, where and what they desire and how to use their special skills that God blesses them with. This helps everyone to become more productive here in Heaven. This also helps getting them ready for their roles and duties when the thousand year reign of peace begins. You know Dad, the New Heaven and the New Earth! Pop, we just don’t get to Heaven and sit around like kings and queens expecting everyone to wait on us.”

  “Summer, you’re too funny!”

  * * *

  “Hey Uriel, the teens brought back Max and Hollywood: they’re right on time! So what’s next on the agenda guys?”

  “Well Pop, that building right there has the portals where all these people are transporting to and from their homes, or at least to the nearest portal to their homes.”

  “Little Soul, you can call it God’s super highway here inside Heaven. We can go in and let you see it, but it almost looks exactly like the portals across the street. It’s your call.”

  “I guess we can skip it; I’ll probably be using it someday in the future, yeah let’s skip it. I’m curious to know what Summer was talking about, when she said there was something else I might like. So what’s the surprise kiddo?”

  Before she could answer, six toddlers come running up with Rosie leading the pack.

  “Summer, Summer, did you hear us sing?”

  “Yes, and so did your Pawpaw.”

  “My Pawpaw?”

  “Yes your Pawpaw Chado.”

  Suddenly, I had six toddlers crawling all over me with Rosie asking, “Are you my Pawpaw Chado?”

  “Yes Sweetie, I’m your Pawpaw Chado.”

  “Did you hear us sing?”

  “Yes, and I thought I was hearing Angels singing, and I looked up and you know what? ”

  “What, Pawpaw?”

  “I saw you and I was so proud of how beautiful y’all sounded.”

  “Thank you Pawpaw, God taught us how to sing like that.”

  “Well, He did a good job. Hey Rosie, would you like to ride Hollywood, that giant horse right there?”

  She rolls her big beautiful green eyes with a funny little expression, “I’ll have to ask my Summer if it’s okay.”

  “Go ahead, but hold on tight.”

  Hollywood and Max do their bowing trick making it easy to place all six kids on their backs, and wasting no time both spider monkeys climb aboard.

  “Okay Summer, where to?”

  “How about, we take a camping trip to the most beautiful beach in all God’s creation?”

  I slowly look around and see mountain ranges on both sides of the valley, as the kids all start to giggle.

  “No Pawpaw, we get to go through a portal, there’s no beach around here silly willy.”

  I hear another toddler, “It’s field trip day for the kids that live here in the Valley, and we get to go see the sea monsters.”

  They all start growling and giggling.

  “Hey, Uriel, what do they mean, sea monsters?”

  “Oh, it’s harmless. They’re talking about the sea creatures that live in the ocean below the planet.”

  “Yeah, I got to see that when Allayer and Nipper transported me in. It actually looked like the planet was sitting in the ocean.”

  “Not really, I guess you could say the planet of Heaven hovers above the waters; it just looks like that from space.”

  “What about the ring around the planet?”

  “That’s the beach they’re talking about, Chado. Let me put it to you like this, God designed it especially for the kids and it is amazing. I’m a Warrior Angel and I love going there, so get ready for something pretty special.”

  We head for what looks like the center of town. “Hey Dad.”

  “Yeah Sweetie, what you got?”

  She points toward a group of homes sitting on a little plateau overlooking the city.

  “Pop can you see the house up there on the far right surrounded by that group of fruit trees?”

  “Sure Sweetie, it looks very nice.”

  “Well, that’s where 19 kids, L
ori, and I all live together, right there in that home. And we have plenty of room if you want to live there with us.”

  “Thank you Sweetie, you know I haven’t made my mind up yet. Granny, my cousins and your Pawpaw Travis have asked me the same thing. I tell you what, for now why don’t you just keep me a cozy spot available for visits?”

  “Sure, Dad.”

  I see a golden archway with what looks like a portal the same size as the one on Angel’s Mountain. It’s large enough to walk an army through. In this case hundreds of kids that are all patiently waiting in front of a closed portal.

  “What’s going on Uriel, why is it closed?”

  “All portals that lead to the outside of Heaven are only open by the instruction of God. Just watch.”

  I see two Warrior Angels standing directly in front of the portal; they both jam their swords in the ground and then lift their hands in praise to God for only a few seconds when suddenly the face of the portal turns to liquid.

  Both Angels sheath their swords as they walk through with a stampede of size four sandals running behind them headed for the open portal.

  28

  The Beach

  A s we stand in line behind several hundred kids all flowing through the open portal, I notice Moushie and Rex with both spider monkeys close behind disappear into the crowd.

  “Hey Uriel, is it okay to bring our animals through the portal?”

  “Sure it is; they love the beach.”

  “So I take it Max and Hollywood have made this trip before.”

  “Daddy, they’ve been here several times with Pawpaw Travis, and he even brings Cuddles the grizzly bear here lately. Pawpaw said he can’t leave Cuddles at home anymore because he sits and pouts the whole time he’s gone. And the kids love riding Cuddles, especially when he swims in the Sea of Glass. As a matter of fact, Dad, you’re in for another treat.”

  “What, what kind a treat?”

  I feel Lori tap me on the shoulder, and as I turn around she’s pointing back behind us. I see two riders approaching on horseback, and wouldn’t you know it, a great big grizzly walking in front of the riders. It’s Dad, Uncle Spike, and Cuddles.

  Lori takes off running, clearly excited to see Dad. I guess I can’t get my head wrapped around her being my sister and that’s her dad too .

  “Hey Chado, you should have seen how excited she was when your dad came walking through the gate when they first met. Remember now, she was raised here in Heaven by your Grandfather Pat, and has been waiting on your mom and dad to get here. Your dad just made it here first.”

  As I turn and watch my sister running to greet Dad, I hear her shout with a loud voice, full of excitement.

  “Hey, Daddy you made it!” She runs past Cuddles, giving him a quick scratch on the head. I watch Dad as he takes his foot out of the stirrup and Lori using it to launch herself up on his horse. As soon as she was seated behind the saddle, she wraps her arms around Dad placing her face against his back.

  “I didn’t know if you would make it in time, Daddy. I’m so glad you came.”

  “Oh, Sweetie, you know I wouldn’t miss a chance to come see you and Summer. Chado’s homecoming beach party was a good excuse to get out this way, and on top of that, you know how much Cuddles loves the beach!”

  Both horses bow allowing everyone to dismount.

  “Hey, Pop, did you train those horses to do that?”

  “No, they came fully loaded like a high dollar luxury car you would buy: power steering, air, and also rising and lowering capabilities.”

  We all burst out laughing at my silly dad!

  “Glad y’all came, Pop.”

  “Chado, we wouldn’t miss out on this for nothing.”

  After he gives Summer a great big hug, he reaches up with his arms out toward Rosie. She stands up on the back of Hollywood and jumps, Dad catches her in the air, swings her around placing her on his shoulders, with her giggling the whole time.

  The other five kids get Uncle Spike to help them out of the saddle, all wanting to ride on the back of Cuddles .

  As I take in this happy scene, I look over at Uriel as we smile at each other, “I know Chado, God’s blessings are unending...”

  Walking through the portal holding on to the reigns of Hollywood, I quickly turn around mid-step through the opening, so I can watch his big beautiful face appear as he passes through this strange, liquid membrane of the portal.

  Seeing these constant miracles of God’s handiwork, I have a brief vision, or maybe just a thought of somehow sharing what I’m experiencing with the world. If they only knew the love, joy, peace and happiness that God has waiting here, they would turn from the wickedness of the world and seek His face.

  I hear the thoughts of Uriel, “Yes Chado! That’s right! The generations have turned away from God’s Word and think it’s foolish. Lucifer has subtly fooled people for so long they have become their own gods. Hell will be expanded to make room for the wicked, unless they escape his trap.”

  * * *

  As we all step through the portal, I see hundreds of kids running in different directions across the white sand. Hollywood nudges me with his nose as he wants me to move along. “Okay big fellow, I’m going.”

  Dad heads over toward a stone table under several palm trees with Cuddles waddling along behind him, and kids still perched on his back.

  Looking around as I stand in awe, the beauty of this place can’t be real. “How can this be?” The Planet of Heaven looks like it’s hovering several miles above the crystal clear Sea of Glass.

  “Summer, can you pinch me and wake me out of this dream?”

  “I can pinch you, but this is no dream, Dad. ”

  As I continue to gaze at the unending beauty, I remember how it looked from space when Allayer and Nipper were bringing me in. This beach looked like it was a circle around the entire circumference of the planet. And the water beneath was like an ocean floating in space. It literally looked like a giant block of water, and the white ring was centered under the planet, with the water on both sides of the ring all hovering in space.

  I feel Hollywood nudge me again, “What do you want bud?” He reaches around and grabs the leather strap on his saddle with his teeth, then letting go, he starts nickering.

  “Oh, I’m sorry Hollywood; you want that ole saddle off!”

  I take his bridle off and as I’m un-strapping the saddle, he turns and rubs his head against my back; I guess his way to say thanks. No sooner had I thrown his saddle on the ground than he and the other three horses trot off to the seashore.

  “So what do you think Son, it’s pretty nice wouldn’t you say?”

  “Oh my goodness, Pop, it’s unbelievable.”

  As we all lay back under the palm trees taking in the beauty, I see several kids gathering huge seashells.

  “Hey Dad those look like the ones we use to get down in Florida.”

  “Yeah, I remember that, you and your brother would run around the house irritating everybody. Y’all were constantly blowing in them, it was okay for a while, but good-night… after a while it would hit a nerve!”

  We all chuckle and continued watching the kids. I notice they were carefully stacking the shells in small groups making sure the sizes were placed in a certain order and direction.

  “Hey Summer, what’s up with the kids stacking the seashells? I see other groups of kids doing the same thing down the beach.”

  “Oh, they’re getting ready for the symphony.”

  “A symphony? ”

  “Yeah, later tonight God will change direction of the wind and as it blows perfectly through each seashell, the sound is like a musical symphony. The melody will penetrate the hearts of the children and they will each fall into a deep sleep. God then allows them to have unique dreams, each one designed special for each child.”

  “Wow! So it’s kind of like a lullaby?”

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  “Well they must love it, because they sure are busy a
bout their work.”

  I see the horses standing belly deep in the water with kids lined up, each taking turns jumping, cutting flips, and diving off their backs. Not far away, Cuddles is floating on his back with Moushie, Rex and several kids all laying across his big fat tummy.

  “Uncle Spike, where did the spider monkeys get off to?”

  Just as he points directly over us, Clyde drops a coconut hitting me right in the stomach!

  “You little rascals, I’m going to shave your tails!”

  They both let out a screech while scurrying down the tree, and then hide behind my dad.

  “Pop, your monkeys are spoiled worse than Cuddles.”

  Lori gets up brushing the sand off her backside. “Well, would anyone care to go swimming with the kiddos?”

  “I would! Come on Uriel; let’s show these kids how to cut a proper flip from the back of a horse.”

  As we make our way over to the edge of the shoreline I ask, “Hey Summer, before I get in the water, what about the sea monsters the kids were talking about, where are they?”

  “Oh Dad, you big baby; I thought you used to be a great and fearless deep-sea diver.”

  “Well I don’t remember having to deal with sea monsters!”

  “Big brother, the sea monsters are a lot like Cuddles, very large but harmless. You do know that God has endowed all creatures here in Heaven with a kind heart.”

  “Well Sis, but aren’t we kind of on the outside of Heaven?”

  “Trust me; this is definitely still a part of Heaven.”

  “Yeah, I have to agree, this is so awesome. But when will we get to see the sea creatures?”

  “You’ll see that tomorrow Dad; God’s going to open the tunnel.”

  “A tunnel? Where could there be a tunnel? All I see is beach and water.”

  Uriel smiles, “Have patience Little Soul, have patience.”

  * * *

  As we strip down to our linen clothes and head for the water, I notice something very different about Uriel. I hesitate to ask until I get a good look at his chest, shoulders, and back.