Stories and Stuff

Stories and Stuff

Angels Among Us
by Barbara Schuderer

"Be an angel to someone else whenever you can,
as a way of thanking God for the help your angel has given you."
- Eileen Elias Freeman

When I received the phone call from John about Noel's death, I was in Washington D.C. at a conference. Being so many miles from home and unable to be with him to be of comfort and support could have been unbearable, had it not been for the "angels" surrounding me from the instant I heard the news. A number of dear friends were with me at the conference, several of whom I have known for over 20 years. What are the chances of being thousands of miles from home at a conference and having dear friends there in such a time of need? Pretty high, when God is in charge.

Those friends - Patty, Mary, Rocki, and Vicky - listened as I told them the news, and immediately went into motion to do what had to be done to get me home as quickly as possible. They got on the phone to arrange for my flight home, packed my suitcases and drew a bath for me to help me relax. That was just the beginning of being surrounded by God's angels on Earth for the next several days, all of whom were there to offer loving support and just the right words or actions...

At 5 AM, the receptionist at the hotel contacted a taxi driver, who arrived immediately. The driver, a man in his mid-sixties, offered a listening ear and kind words as we drove to the airport. As he helped me out of the car, he offered a hug, and reminded me that God was with me, and would help me make it through this difficult time. I asked him to please tell his wife when he arrived home later in the day when she asked how his day was, that he had served as one of God's angels on Earth.

At the airport, as I checked in with the ticket clerk, she asked if I was okay. I told her I was flying home early from a conference because I had just learned of my stepson's death. She hopped over the luggage scale, gave me a hug and said she understood. She had just lost her mother several weeks earlier. She hopped back to the other side of the ticket counter and put me in first class.

Upon my arrival at the Phoenix airport, our dear friend, Chrys, was waiting to pick me up. She assured me that John was also in good hands, as he was with our close friends, Ken, Michael and Ralph. Throughout the day love enveloped us as numerous friends and co-workers visited and called.

The miracles of love and friendship continued to pour in through the next several days as plans were made for the memorial service. Somehow, it never occurred to me to become anxious about whether it would all come together, because once again, God and His angels on Earth were in charge. I called Brad, my principal for nearly 20 years when I was teaching, and asked him if he knew how I could arrange for 150 chairs for the service on Monday in Papago Park. He told me not to worry about a thing, we would have the chairs. He also stepped in to cover my responsibilities at work during my absence. We asked another friend, Ken, if he knew how we could access a sound system, and if he would be willing to play keyboard at the beginning of the service. He said not to give it another thought, we would have a sound system, and yes he would play keyboard. We wanted to have an outdoor service in a particular ramada at Papago Park. Our friend, Kathi, works at Papago Park and, even though she was out of town, another friend, Stan, was able to contact her for us. She assured us we would have the ramada we desired. Like clockwork, everything happened just as promised. I could continue with stories such as these, but I think you understand my point.

"No one has to look very far to find proof of an angel...
I've discovered that rather than few and far between, angel encounters
are happening all around us and that very normal people everywhere have been touched
by something or someone that has left them with tremendous faith."
- Karen Goldman