Every morning before I start to work, I read “the next paragraph” in my Bible at work. On December 6, the feast of Saint Nicholas, my “next paragraph” in Matthew 15:33 was of Jesus feeding the 5,000.

Have you ever met an angel—or at least thought you had? I would like to share with you two encounters.

Angel #1: On my way to church one morning, in a poorer section of the city, I was approached by a scary-looking gentleman who looked at me and said, “Please have your brakes on your car checked.” I nodded and walked away. That very day, I took my car in (just in case) and, sure enough, the mechanic said, “Good thing you brought your car in. Your brakes needed work.”

My parents died within two weeks of each other many years ago. Dad, who never smoked, had terminal lung cancer. Mom had a limb removed due to diabetes and was on kidney dialysis. I was so brokenhearted and wanted a sign from God. I wanted to see a bluebird—a symbol of happiness. My parents had gone through so much suffering in their lives, and I just wanted to be assured that they were happy.  

How easy it is for me (especially during Lent, it seems) to “get down in the dumps” and stay there for a while, not able to think about all the times when I was joyful or when I felt light-hearted. And rainy days don’t help at all either!

Not wishing to stay in that mode for very long, I devised a way for me to escape and remember the good times.

Whenever something happens to me that “spurs me on,” makes me smile, or picks me up in some way, I record that experience in a journal because I don’t want to forget it.

I remember my brother, David, every time I stop and wait in traffic for a red light to change. Now, you would be surprised how this works for me. David entered into eternal life October 14, 2016, and I was determined to remember him more in prayer, so I devised a way: Every time I need to stop for a red light in traffic, I think of David and pray, “Eternal Rest Grant Unto him, O Lord.” And that’s it!