Thetus Tenney

Angels are God's messengers, created to minister to us and help fulfill His purposes, but most of the time we forget they are only a prayer away.

Hanging in my grandmother's house was a picture that has left a lasting impact on me. It was titled "The Guardian," and it featured a very large angel with a comforting expression and outreached hands hovering near a small boy and girl as they walked over a precariously dangerous bridge.

The simple framed print brought great comfort and security to my heart when I was a little girl and propelled my imaginative mind into the awesome arena of angels. In recent years the study of angels has continued to bring me much comfort and encouragement.

She was the wife of a young pastor with a thriving congregation. Heavily involved in the church, she had been a vital key to its spiritual vibrancy and growth. She was also the soon-to-be mother of her second child.

"Before I heard your message, I felt frustrated and guilty," she admitted to me. "On the one hand, I saw the ministry needs of the people around me. On the other, I knew I had a new baby on the way who would need my attention and nurture.

It was a day like so many others. I had a long list of things to do before I was to leave on a trip. I shuffled my priorities, but still there were things left undone.

When I arrived at the airport terminal, I discovered my plane was a half-hour late, so I had time for a quick bite to eat. Sitting in the small airport restaurant alone, I became “people-conscious,” as I took in what was going on around me.