One of my favorite pictures shows two little children on a bridge with an angel behind, watching carefully over them. We subscribe to a Guidepost magazine called Angels and also get books on angels. It is very comforting to know that no matter where I am someone watches and protects me. I feel sorry for those people who don't believe in angels.

Angels are quite popular today but some of the books I have read on angels teach that we can summon them and order angels around and that is not true. Angels are very powerful, they work for God and do His bidding, not ours. These books don't mention the fallen angels and the harm they do.

Earl's family never went to church. My brother-in-law, Vernon was a nice guy but he liked to drink and one day when he was working for the C.F. & I. in Pueblo, he and some other guys were drinking beer on the job. Shortly afterwards Vernon was working and slipped under a moving train. He came close to dying and his leg had to be amputated. Now Vernon had never gone to church in his life but we asked for prayer and many people prayed for him.

Later Vernon told us that while he was in the hospital someone came and sat on the edge of his bed. That someone was dressed in a long, dark robe with a hood over his head. "His hand motioned for me to follow him," Vernon said. "I never saw his face, but I was scared to death." A short time after his recovery Vernon and his family started going to church.

My father-in-law, Slim was a personable man but because his father was a Jehovah's witness who quoted the Bible well when he was drunk and made his children go without Christmas, my father-in-law wouldn't set foot in a church. While he was in the hospital, several days before his death, Slim was terrified. "I saw men on the ceiling," he told my husband. His sons took turns sitting with him all night and Earl prayed with him. My father-in-law died serenely.

But Earl's Uncle Bob did not die peacefully. When he died several years later he went out of this world in pain and screaming pitifully. I don't have to ask why.

Jim Deden gave me a beautiful little gold angel. It is supposed to be a Christmas tree decoration but I think it is too beautiful to only use once a year so I put a pin on it and wear it on special occasions.

Now I've never seen an angel and I've always wanted to see one. Hebrews 13:2 in the Living Bible tells us "Don't forget to be kind to strangers for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it."

Although I've never seen one I've felt their presence many times in my life. There have been numerous occasions when I pulled a stupid stunt while driving my car and had a close encounter with another car. Those times I know an angel is watching over me. Other times I have had car trouble and as soon as I pray someone helps me.

When my girls were teenagers we bought an old school bus and fixed it into a wonderful camper, complete with stove, sink, running water, dinette and bathroom. We had some great trips in that old bus. One day we were driving down the highway when Earl said, "Something is wrong with the tire. I think I better pull off at the next exit and have it checked." We did some heavy praying until we reached the next turn-off. As soon as we stopped the left front wheel fell off. How did that wheel stay on the bus? I knew the angels were watching over us.