Angels unaware

by Mary Le Arneal
posted 12/23/09

In the movie It’s a Wonderful Life, Jimmy Stewart’s character is helped by an angel trying to earn his wings.

At this time of year we are given opportunities to help others, whether it be by dropping a coin in the red kettle or returning an envelope with a few dollars to help buy a meal for a needy person. We each have opportunities to be considered angels.

The Eagle asked readers to submit stories of “angels unaware,” stories of a time when an “angel” touched their lives. We received a couple of responses, one of the writers did not want to be identified. The third story just happened recently and we heard about it through the grapevine, with the recipient willing to share the story.

This is our gift to you, stories to let you know there are angels out there who will be there for you when you least expect it.

At this time of year, we encourage each of you to look for an opportunity to earn your own “wings.”

The Warmth of Angles

by Linda Minarick

Piecing together a patchwork quilt is quite an art and also a labor of love. I was given one of these quilts this year and thus, I need to share with you about the two “angels” in my life and how it all came to be.

Shortly after I began chemo treatments for breast cancer, my daughters, Teri and Beth, decided to begin a project that had more healing power than they would ever realize. I had set up a “Legion of Angels” on my e-mail account to keep in touch with family and friends about my treatments and keep them updated on news.

Teri ( unknown to me) got my list and e-mailed everyone for a special favor... send her something about me to put on a quilt. Family and friends inundated the girls with prayers and good tidings of encouragement for me. Armed with these, Teri copied them on to transfer sheets and ironed them onto squares. Beth, having the expertise to make a quilt, sewed the blocks together. Before long, they had put together a beautiful queen sized quilt, black with numerous colors of pink - all done without me having a clue.

In July, after my last chemo treatment, Ted and I took off for my family’s annual camping trip to Harlan County Dam. My family had already proposed to celebrate the weekend on my behalf as well as others in the family who had been stricken by cancer.

One of our fun traditions is to eat out at the local Mexican restaurant on Saturday evening. My girls had prepared me to “be sure and wear pink on Saturday” but when everyone else started showing up wearing pink, including all the guys, I was speechless.

When we arrived at the restaurant, I’m sure everyone knew we were celebrating something. What would you think if 29 people showed up together all wearing pink?

As we were waiting for a table, the girls brought in a very large gift sack. I pulled this gorgeous quilt out, and saw that the block in the center was an angel and had the words “Your Legion of Angels.”

In the surrounding blocks were stories, prayers, words of encouragement, pictures... all prodding me to keep focused on the positive side of things and to remain strong.

It was overwhelming.

I was in awe of the things people wrote to me, including my husband and children. It was a love story in itself and such a tribute to their mom. I still stand speechless when I look at it.

Now, if I do get down in the dumps, I can wrap this beautiful masterpiece around me and literally feel “my angels” holding me.

Angels bring milk and warmth

by Anonymous

It was my first Christmas completely alone.

The harsh reality of divorce required sharing the children on alternating holidays. I had the children on Christmas Eve; they went to their Dad’s on Christmas Day.

Far away from my own family, I felt like a failure. My marriage was done. I had to move my children away from their friends to start a new school. I was dead broke. I didn’t even have enough money to buy a gallon of milk.

Even though times were grim, I usually tried to keep a cheerful outlook for the sake of my children. We found a scrawny little ditch cedar so that we could have a Christmas tree at our new-to-us house. Although I didn’t have much to spend, each child had something under the tree.The children enjoyed visits to Santa and the church Christmas program.They were young and trusting and looked to the future as a bright and happy place.

I knew that all in all, somehow we would manage. But on that Christmas day, the future looked pretty low for me. To top it off, I had a bad case of the flu.

Then my angels appeared out of nowhere.

Jan and Rick Hobza appeared on the doorstep with two large bags of groceries (including milk!). They didn’t know how much I needed those groceries at that point. It was more than the groceries that they brought me. They took time away from their own Christmas day to visit with me. I believe their kind action was a gift of God and that He was truly using Jan and Rick as His angels at that moment.

Bonnie Wennekamp wrote several columns for the Eagle about random acts of kindness from people in our community. The small things we do in helping each other can have an impact more than can be imagined.

After Jan and Rick’s visit on that Christmas day, my outlook brightened and, though I knew times may be tough, I did have help to get through. I began to count my blessings instead of my sorrows. I have tried to use their example to offer help to others as well.

As we celebrate this Christmas season, try to take a little time to spend with someone who is lonely. Invite guests over for a meal. Listen to the pure voices of children as they sing Christmas songs. Reflect on both the large and small miracles of life.

May the angels among us continue to show God’s love.

Pay it Forward

Betty Jurgens was shopping at the North Bend Mini-Mart. She got her needed groceries and stood in line to pay for them. There was a man with one item behind her so she let him check out ahead of her. Jurgens started to go to another clerk, but clerk Jenny Mullally said she would check her out.

When Jurgens went to pay for her $24 of groceries, Mullally told her that a man had left money saying he “wanted to pay for the grey haired lady’s groceries” and he asked not to be identified.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Jurgens said. “I didn’t see anyone I knew in the store.”

Jurgens was so shocked, she took the change and left.

“I’ve always tried to do nice things for people,” Jurgens said. “This has never happened to me. I didn’t think of what to do then.”

Jurgens said she would see kids buying things in stores and not have enough money and help them out. For years Jurgens and her husband, Dick, took their neighbor, the late Jean Tapster, into their home, making her part of their family.

“I guess when you give of yourself to someone else it comes back to you,” Jurgens said. “There are wonderful little angels around this world.”
Jurgens would like to thank her unknown benefactor. Since she doesn’t know his name she will do so by passing on his kindness.

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