Henry looked at Gabriel and beamed.
“For most of my life I just knew I had a guardian angel, especially when I met Jenny.”
“Yes, both Hannah and I remember the moment you two met. We were exuberantly excited for you both.”
Hannah fluttered her wings and gazing at Henry, she added, “You and Jenny were such a perfect match… almost heaven made!”
“And when Jenny moved to Ottawa,” interjected Gabriel, “Hannah and I felt your pain very deeply.”
Henry looked at Gabriel and then Hannah appreciatively. He detected sorrow in their eyes at the thought.
Jenny turned to Hannah. “I’ve often wondered about that day when I left Mr. Engelmann’s grocery store and a car almost hit me when crossing Victoria Avenue. I occasionally dreamt about it. It was you that saved my life?”
“Yes, Jenny, it was a close call, but I moved you out of danger’s way.”
Jenny floated over to Hannah and hugged her.
“It was Henry’s prayer of love to put a protective shield around you as you crossed the busy street that alerted us to be extra watchful that day,” added Gabriel. “We are quick to respond to prayer and acts of love.” Gabriel and Henry gazed at one another and smiled.
“It’s our job to protect and guide you as much as possible… at times we are allowed to take such exceptional measures.” Gabriel turned to Henry and continued, “There were so many times when you drove home tired after a busy day at the gallery that I had to nudge you to stay alert at the wheel. You had many close calls that you were unaware of.”
Henry recalled the several times his car window unexpectedly opened, blasting him with a sudden gush of wind, keeping him awake. Gabriel knew Henry’s thoughts and smiled, acknowledging that it was during those times.
Henry knew he would never know from how many dangers Gabriel had delivered him, or how much of his salvation was also actually due to his holy protector. Henry floated over to Gabriel and hugged him again.
Henry patted his protector’s shoulder and pulled away. “I remember talking to Mr. Engelmann about angels one time and he quoted Exodus 23:20, that God sends an angel in front of you, to guard you on the way.”
“I like the one in Psalm 91: 11 and 12,” added Jenny. “‘He hath given angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways. In their hands they shall bear thee up: lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.’ How much closer and caring can an angel be?”
Hannah responded to what Henry and Jenny said by darting up and down and side to side like a hummingbird.
“An angel’s task is very full and relentless. We are forever by your side protecting, warning and earnestly exhorting you at times. I must admit there were some days Jenny, with all your bubbly spontaneity, when sleep came none too soon and I was able to rest my wings.”
They all laughed.
“So, were you responsible for Henry purchasing my house?” Jenny asked Gabriel.
“Yes, it took very little prompting to remind Ben Walker of one of his favourite clients. Ben is a true real estate salesman at heart and just a nudge spurred him into action to contact Henry. When Henry’s son Jeremy didn’t buy the home, it immediately opened the door for Hannah and I to help Henry revive his feelings for you, his first love, as we had many other times when the opportunity presented itself and did not infringe upon anyone’s free will.”
“I just knew you were involved Gabriel,” Henry said. “The moment I stepped into Marjorie’s—er, Jenny’s house, I felt right at home. The furniture, the fragrance in the air, books, recipes… everything reflected my tastes. How I began to confuse Marjorie with Jenny only to finally learn they were in fact the same person!”
“We were a little concerned about your state of mind,” Gabriel chuckled.
“Isn’t that something, Henry?” Jenny chimed in. “We were beginning to live a life we could have lived… albeit not together, until now.”
Jenny kissed Henry’s cheek, then let go of his hands and stepped back. She turned and looked towards the guardian angels and then back to Henry. “They were present all the time helping us. Hannah started to tell me earlier how they tried to get us back together time and again and weren’t able to do so until, today. It is in part for this reason I was allowed to come back and get you.”
Hannah and Gabriel fluttered their wings.
Jenny’s eyes brightened as did the nimbus above her head as she gazed lovingly into Henry’s eyes.
“Remember, Henry, some matches are made in heaven and perhaps marriages, too. Even though we missed out on earth, I believe our greatest joy is yet to come.”
“But, Jenny, there are no marriages in heave—”
“Ssssh. Just trust in the Lord and don’t—”
“Yes, I know, don’t lean on your own understanding,” Henry finished. “I now see I will need to rely on this passage in my spiritual life, as well.”
“Hannah told me there is someone else we have to get. Someone you love very much.”
“Who?”
“Father Engelmann. I think it is all part of God’s plan. Perhaps, Father will be the one to marry us, either before or after we get to heaven.”
“But, Jenny—”
“Just trust in the Lord, Henry.”
Once again, Hannah nodded.
What Jenny said suddenly hit Henry. “Is Father Engelmann dead, as well?” Henry recalled his dream and what Jenny had just told him. “I dreamt that Father gave up his life for you so you could live…if that is the case, for what end? You are still dead and…so is he!”
Jenny looked at Henry and smiled; rather than answer his queries, Jenny said those wonderful words, those four magical words, “Quickly, hold my hand.”
Without any hesitation, he reached out for her hand. The instant their hands touched, there was a huge flash of pure white light, brighter than a bolt of lightning, and their spirits, along with their guardian angels, were gone.
Chapter Eighteen
I’ll get Josh from the back yard and meet you at the car.” Within seconds, Jeremy took hold of his son and told his friend to go home. Camilla was already waiting for him as he got to the front driveway. After strapping Joshua and then himself in, he squealed back out of the driveway.
As they raced down the street, Jeremy began filling Camilla in on the conversation he had with his brother.
“Was the officer certain that Dad was killed in the accident?” asked Camilla.
“Yes, apparently the SUV is totaled. They used the Jaws of Life to get him out.”
“I can’t believe all this is happening, Jeremy. Mom…now Dad, all in the same day, what is going on?”
“Well, let’s get to the accident scene and see if we can still see Dad and do what we can.” Jeremy refused to believe his dad was dead… it couldn’t be true!
Jeremy reached across to Camilla, “I know this is almost too much to bear, Honey, but we have to hang in there.”
“And what about Justin, he needs us to be with him, too. Maybe you should drop me off at the gallery.”
“There isn’t time. It will take at least a half hour to get to the accident scene through the traffic. I’m sure Justin will tough it out until we get there.”
Camilla squeezed her husband’s hand.
“I know Dad would be praying at this point if it were one of us.”
Josh piped up unexpectedly from the back seat and said, “Let’s say the guardian angel prayer for Grandpa. You always tell me to say it for Grandma when I go to sleep.”
Jeremy turned to Camilla and shook his head. “I didn’t think he was listening to all this. Amazing what kids hear.” And then raising his voice slightly, he continued, “But yes, Josh, that’s a good idea, let’s say a prayer to our dear guardian angel to take a message for us to God to please bring Grandpa back to us. Yeah, let’s ask God for a miracle; to heal him!”
“Is Grandpa going to get better, Mommy?” Joshua wanted to know.
Camilla looked at Jeremy. The full imp
act of all this hadn’t really registered on either of them. It all seemed so surreal, as if they were in a daze. They would have to see Henry’s body to put some finality to all this.
“Grandpa was in an accident, Josh. We are going there now to see what has happened.” Camilla turned to Jeremy and shrugged her shoulders. In a low whisper she said, “We will have to explain what happened to Josh tonight or at the accident scene…”
As they sat there frantically waiting for the lights to turn green, a small voice from the backseat filled the car with a quiet peace and hope…
“Angel of God, my guardian dear… please help Grandpa.” said Joshua.
And then, after a pause, “Mommy? What comes after my guardian dear?”
Jeremy was too choked up to say anything.
With tears in her eyes, Camilla continued the prayer, coaxing her little boy along…
“To whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.”
Chapter Nineteen
After Father Engelmann died, his spirit left his earthly body and floated up and over to the far end of the sun room. From that vantage point, he could see everything in the room. Zachariah, his guardian angel, was by his side. Father had communed with him so often and intimately over the years that it was just a matter of seeing and meeting him spiritually to know Zachariah completely.
Zachariah was much like Father had always visualized him to be. His light brown hair was long and he wore a beard of the same colour. Streaks of white hair grew out of the top of his forehead as well as from his beard. It gave Zachariah a wise, timeless look, almost the perfect complement to Father Engelmann’s appearance. He wore an amber-coloured gown with a tan rope that hung from the back of his neck, crossed in front of his chest and tied to a similar cord wrapped around his waist. His shoulders were broad and strong, and growing out of his shoulder blades were two huge white wings.
Zachariah was a good eight to ten feet tall if you measured him to the tips of his wings. His overbearing stature could have been intimidating, if it wasn’t for his clear, friendly eyes and benevolent smile. Overall, his beaming countenance exuded such a gracious kindheartedness that it made Father Engelmann want to fly into his powerful arms.
Zachariah loved his commission to protect, guide, and watch over Father. Of all the 1147 people Zachariah had been assigned to over the years, David Engelmann had to be his favourite. On the whole, Father had been easy to look after. His life was built on the solid rock of the Word that withstood all the tempests and storms of life. He was a good man, a holy man, and the odd time his foundation quivered was when his stubbornness and impatience got the best of him.
Zachariah held a colossal fondness for this reverent man of God and regretted the fact, that as soon as he delivered David Engelmann to the Lord, his mission would be over and he would be reassigned to some other living soul at the moment of their conception.
David and Zachariah were about to talk over occurrences in Father’s past, when they were interrupted by Nurse Dianne Frowler entering the sun room and seeing Father in his chair. It only took her a few moments to realize Father Engelmann was not just asleep, but permanently so.
Father was moved by her grief over his passing and the tender way she kissed his forehead. And what moved Father even more, was how all the residents came and gathered around him and sang and prayed.
Father noted the many healings that had happened that morning and immediately praised the Lord for His kindness. During that morning prayer session, Edith’s abscessed tooth was gone and the blessing didn’t stop until all her teeth were restored. She was shocked when her upper plate fell out as new teeth emerged! The cut to Angie’s finger while preparing breakfast was instantly healed. Margaret no longer needed the hearing aid Father had bought her, and Elmer’s lifetime wish for hair to cover his baldness, now looked like a hippy in desperate need of a haircut.
And to see Johnny run and jump about like a merry child, brought such joy and waves of euphoric exhilaration to Father’s spirit, Zachariah had to place his hands on Father’s shoulders lest he shoot off into the far reaches of heaven. The Holy Spirit was sure a-movin’ in that morning’s prayer session!
Zachariah struggled to control his wings from lifting him off. The sight of seeing Father so elated over his sheep and their blessings moved him more so than the miracles themselves. That is what he so loved about Father, always giving, always wanting the best for others, always happy for them, always… loving.
Until now, Father hadn’t known that angels could cry. His tears of joy were already pooling on his lap and even more elation swept through him as he felt Zachariah’s tears cascade through the fingers of the angel’s hands resting on his shoulders. Father smiled. It was the reason why many times he felt extra gladdened for having done a good deed. His protector was rejoicing with him. Father reached back to his shoulder and put his hand over his guardian angel’s and patted it. The burst of affection they shared brightened the sun room with glorious light, startling the residents below them.
“You have affected and influenced the lives of many, many people, David. The Lord is well pleased with you and what you have accomplished with the talents you were given.”
Father turned and nodded, almost bowing.
As Father saw Angie scoot off to the kitchen to check on the roast for the residents’ dinner, he was surprised that the wonderful smell was not making him hungry. It made him think, “Do angels have regular meals, Zachariah?”
“You’re aware of the expression, ‘you can’t live on love’? Well, that may not be true for people on earth, but it is true for us. When we hear a kind word or see a nice deed, it’s like having a snack. An act of forgiveness or acceptance, well now that’s considered an hors d’oeuvre.” Father chuckled. Zachariah turned to him and continued, “In your case, David, just look at my size! I’m feasting all the time. Since looking after you, my wings have put on over fifty pounds!”
Father laughed and Zachariah joined in.
“Now that my appointment with you is coming to a close, I will quickly shed this excess weight when my new assignment begins.”
Father looked up at Zachariah. “Oh?”
“There’s a learning curve that most people follow. Slowly they quit hitting their head against a brick wall or tire of going in circles and eventually learn to depend on their Lord, to accept, to forgive, to believe… to love.”
“Yes, yes, Zachariah, I have seen much of that and in myself, as well.”
Zachariah chuckled. “Over 1500 years ago I almost shriveled up, I lost so much weight. The Roman soldier I was assigned to at the time engaged in a lot of things that caused me much concern and worry. But as is usually the case, as he neared the end of his time on this earth, he began to change. On the day of his passing, he was so relenting, forgiving, and sorrowful for his deeds and misgivings, I put on over fifty pounds!”
Once again, they shared a huge laugh.
“There was one other time, David, I must share with you.”
Father smiled, his eyes twinkling with delight.
“Just last century, I attended to a man who enjoyed sips of wine in much excess… actually, in considerable excess. Most days I could keep my distance from the intoxicating fragrance of it all, but the poor man needed close guidance and careful watch, requiring that I be near and… good heavens, some days I could not fly straight and nearly broke my left wing!”
Father roared. He had not reveled in such an enjoyable conversation in a long time. He was surely going enjoy heaven.
To his right, just off to Zachariah’s side, Father saw a bright light. At first he thought it was the aura surrounding Zachariah or the late afternoon sun coming through the sun room windows. But the light was much too bright. It was the brightness of at least ten suns put together. Had he not been a spirit now, his earthly eyes would immediately have been blinded. He felt strangely attracted to the light, yet remained stationary. He knew it
was his passageway into eternity, yet he remained put.
Even as Zachariah and he were enjoying each other’s company he was wondering why he hadn’t as yet crossed completely over into God’s kingdom. He was honoured that the Lord had taken his life for Jenny’s, but why was he still there? He turned to discuss this with Zachariah, his long dear trusted friend with whom he constantly communed with over the years.
“What is the hold up, Zachariah? Why are we not going to heaven? Have I done something wrong? Is the Lord purging me for some sin I have committed and not confessed?”
“No, no, David, it’s nothing like that. You have been a good and faithful servant.”
“Well, then, tell me what is it? I am so anxious to go to the other side and see my Anna and parents and—”
“Well, the truth of the matter is, you have done too good of a job. Over the years, there have only been a handful of people who have disrupted what was written for the destiny of each and every person who is born. The precise time when he comes into the world and the exact time he leaves has been known for all time and is written in stone.”
“I don’t understand, Zachariah.” Father wrinkled his brow and looked confused and impatient, a lingering bad habit from his earthly days.
“Well, let me finish. David, we are presently in a state of limbo. Where we are now, there is no need for hurry.”
Father smiled shamefaced, not surprised by Zachariah’s quick and keen perception.
“The truth is David,” Zachariah went on, his voice as warm as the sun, “that all the Masses and prayers you said over the years for Henry and Jenny and that prayer session you had in the chapel this morning… well, that was a humdinger; very powerful. All of us were quite moved to say the least. In fact, all of God’s many mansions vibrated with tremors that in earthly terms would have gone off the Richter scale with ease!”
Father laughed, again. “I have to admit, Zachariah, it was a doozy. Those warriors of mine really got into it, didn’t they?” Father beamed.
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