The Christmas Angel Project
Page 14
“I guess it’s my turn,” Grace said after a brief pause. “I need to express some gratitude as well.” She slowly shook her head. “I cannot even imagine where I’d be right now if you girls hadn’t been in my life these past several weeks. To be honest, I was in a bad place. My kids weren’t doing well. And my marriage was in trouble. I wasn’t even sure Joel and I would get through it.”
“Sometimes it takes a rough patch to get your attention,” Louisa said.
Grace nodded. “I agree. But now we’re doing better. Much better than we’ve done in years. I’m very grateful. And I’m grateful for our angel project. It’s helped to change my perspective about a lot of things.”
“Well, your living rooms in those Habitat homes certainly turned out nicely,” Louisa told her.
“I couldn’t have done any of that without your generous donations. Those poor families would probably be sitting on beanbag chairs and apple crates right now.” Grace looked around the table. “I’m so thankful for all of you. I felt completely alone after Abby passed. But you girls have become true friends to me, and I hope that even if we don’t have book group anymore and even if we’re done with our Christmas angel project, we will continue being friends.”
“Of course we will,” Louisa assured her.
“But what about our book group?” Belinda asked. “Are we really done with that?”
“And our angel projects?” Cassidy questioned. “Was that only for Christmastime?”
“How does one retire from being an angel?” Louisa asked with a furrowed brow.
“I can’t help thinking that Abby knew she was going to die,” Cassidy said suddenly. “Somehow she had to have known. And that’s why she made those ornaments and tucked in our secret Scripture verses. Because she knew she’d be gone and that we’d need each other more than ever.”
“I’ve had the same thought,” Belinda admitted.
“Abby would be very happy to see how the angel projects helped us to forge our friendships,” Grace said quietly.
“It gives meaning to her death,” Belinda said.
“I’ve been looking at death differently lately,” Louisa confided. “Losing Adam and then Abby has changed my thinking. If you don’t mind, I’d like to share something I recently said to my art therapy group.” She paused to consider her words. “It’s as if heaven has grown closer somehow. It used to feel so far away and otherworldly. But knowing that my loved ones are already there makes it seem more real. As if I now have a more direct connection. Does that make sense?”
They nodded as if they understood what she was trying to say.
“To be honest, I wanted to give up after Abby died,” Louisa admitted. “I wanted to call it a day and go join her and Adam up there. But, after leading the art therapy classes and getting to know you ladies better, I don’t feel like giving up anymore. In fact, I feel surprisingly energized. I want to make the most of every single day that I have left down here.” She smiled. “Who knows how many days there are?”
“So what about continuing to meet?” Cassidy asked eagerly. “Can we keep being a book group or an angel group or something?”
“Why don’t we do both? We can be an angel book group,” Louisa suggested.
“An angel book group,” Belinda echoed. “Interesting. I like it.”
“And I know the book we should start with,” Grace declared.
“What book?” Cassidy asked.
With a sly smile, Grace suggested they read the Bible. “Not the whole thing, of course. Maybe we should simply focus on one chapter, like Abby had me do. That was my first real experience with the Bible, and it’s been a life changer for me.”
So it was agreed that the book-group-turned-angels-group would now become the angels’ Bible study book group. In the coming year, they would take turns selecting small portions of Scripture, which they would read at home and then discuss together.
With much still to do for Christmas, it was time to part ways. As the women exchanged warm hugs and kind words, in heaven above, a smiling Abby Wentworth gazed down upon the four Christmas angels . . .
And winked.
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, including Christmas at Harrington’s, The Christmas Pony, A Simple Christmas Wish, The Christmas Cat, and The Christmas Joy Ride. Melody has received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books. She and her husband live in central Oregon. For more information about Melody, visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com.
Books by Melody Carlson
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Christmas at Harrington’s
The Christmas Bus
The Christmas Shoppe
The Joy of Christmas
The Treasure of Christmas
The Christmas Pony
A Simple Christmas Wish
The Christmas Cat
The Christmas Joy Ride
The Christmas Angel Project