Angels

"God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. " Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

One of my favorite talks from General Conference was the one Elder Holland gave about angels. I've listened to it I think 5 times now. I've thought back many times to the day Wyatt died--actually the few days before he died along with the day he died. I felt and I know Derek felt a strength and incredible peace come upon us. I just thought that it was the Holy Ghost--which I think was a big majority of it but after listening to Elder Hollands talk for the 5th time the thought came to me that we had angels there with us. Ones from my side of the family and ones from Derek's side of the family. They were there to help us and comfort us. Elder Holland said:

"From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children....Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world. Sometimes the messages are more private. Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn. But most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times."

I think back on those days and wonder how did we do all that we did? How did we watch our little baby take his last breathe? How did we go to the mortuary and pick out his coffin and figure out his funeral? How did we make it through the viewing, funeral and dedication of the grave. Right now in my weakened state I don't know how we did it. The only explanation I have is that we were being lifted up by unseen angels and by the power of the Holy Ghost. That all the prayers that were being said in our behave were being answered by unseen angels. The peace and comfort was so strong...so real!

The next part of his talk I loved as well. He stated it perfectly:

"We are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods... Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind."

How grateful I am for the "seen" angels in my life. The ones that have helped during times of despair. The one's that have lifted me up and helped me get through another day without my Wyatt. For wonderful neighbors that came into our home and filled our fridge with food, cleaned our house and prepared Wyatt's room for our arrival after his death. For all the meals, cards, presents, flowers, etc. etc. I could go on and on with all the kindnesses that people showed to us. How grateful I am for the love we felt from family and friends and the love we continue to feel from so many. How grateful I am for the loving and supportive people that I've meet online. I'm especially grateful for the angelic husband that I have that is so patient and loving to me. How grateful I am for each and every angel that has touched my life--those seen and unseen.