Meditation Monday - Angelic Assistance
A little girl who looked like an angel provided the inspiration for today's Meditation Monday.
On Saturday, I was in North Port speaking at the SW Florida Women's Expo (which was wonderful, by the way). Afterward, my husband and I ventured over to Englewood, a lovely seaside town with Old Florida charm (no high-rises...). We popped in to see Lynne, a dear soul who owns a spiritual transformation center/store named Mystic See.
Once I'd made a purchase of some greeting cards inspired by the "angel lady, " Doreen Virtue, (Doreen is one of the 12 "holy women" featured in my book), we stepped out onto the sidewalk, my heart as light as could be, eager to check out some other quaint shops.
Within moments, my heart went from soaring to sad, from angry to compassionate, all because of this darling girl.
She stepped out from the doorway of an ice cream parlor, her face beaming with delight. In her hand was an ice cream cone—a double scoop of my personal favorite, mint chocolate chip. Her tongue stretched out to take a lick and PLOP, the big icey ball fell on the sidewalk.
Her father, who seemed to come out of nowhere, retrieved the pile and quickly moved over to a trash can, tossing it in with vehemence. "I TOLD you I couldn't trust you," he admonished, and stalked away.
In a nanosecond, my heart started racing and indignation rose to the surface. How dare he, I thought, demean this little girl this way! I was so angry.
Her mother offered no better. "Well, at least, you got a cone," she added, and she walked away, too.
My heart broke in half. I stood there with mouth open, gaping at this child who wanted nothing more than to experience the joy of eating an ice cream cone, and what she got in return was humiliation—verbal and emotional abuse, in my view. It was not her fault the cone toppled. She was only licking it, and off it went.
Truly, I did not know what to do, except to stand there watching her bravely slough off the unkind words, still walking, now nibbling at the edges of an empty cone.
I took a deep breath and, somehow, my inner wisdom broke through. I knew how to respond. I called upon the angels.
As I stood there on the sidewalk, I imagined two of them, one by each shoulder, leaning into her, touching her lightly on the shoulders while whispering in her ears: "It's alright. You are loved."
And as she continued to walk down the street, I imagined them staying close to her all the days of her life. Whispering to her, when more admonishing words would come, as they inevitably would—"You are wonderful as you are. Never forget that you are loved."
I felt better, monumentally better, knowing that I had called upon the angels to bless and care for this sweet soul. I prayed that she felt better, too ...
Meditation comes in many shapes and forms. As do opportunities to connect with our breath, our spirit, and the Lovingkindness that permeates it all.
Today, if you witness the suffering of another, consider calling upon the angels to provide comfort and guidance—nurturing for them and wisdom for you.
With love and blessings,
Jan
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31 comments:
Jan, thank you! Thank You! My hubby is going through a bit of inner turmoil at this time and reading this inspired me! I closed my eyes an visioned my hubby driving his work vehicle and my uncle (deceased) sitting next to him re-assuring him things would be okay. Letting him know that God loves him so.
Oh Jan, thanks so much for writing this, it was beautiful. My heart ached for that little girl too as I read, and then I was so happy she had you there to conjure those angels for her. I will remember that, because I have been in similar situations. And sometimes I just pray for a moment for the child. But I like this even better.
Oh Jan...that situation breaks my heart. I totally remember that happening to me as a little girl...thankfully my Mom went it and got me a new cone (now many ice cream parlors offer "insurance" for 10 cents...in case your cone plops). Nonetheless, what an angel you are...sending this sweet child assistance from above!
Jan,
How powerful. Thank you!
Today I had the opposite. I witnessed so much beauty I called on the Angels to praise for each situation. So each individual within that beauty knows "you are loved, here is your gift, rest in it, feel the Light and Love". Awesome amazing feeling!
Tabitha,
I will hope that your husband we feel comfort and care at this challenging time. Be blessed!
Lisa,
May all those angels gather round the many children we see whose parents may be short on patience or even unkind. There are so many!
Thank you Jan. A beautiful story.
I call on my Angels - quite often.
Caroline,
Well your mom was very kind to buy you another...I would have offered to myself if the dad hadn't been so angry. :-( Especially if it had seemed they really couldn't afford another one. (sigh...)
I did not know about the insurance for cones. What a marvelous idea! Bless those ice cream stores that do this. :-)
Joy,
I am so happy to hear that you had an experience with the angels that filled you with joy - enough to pour it over others too. Lovely...May we all be so blessed.
One Woman,
I am very glad to hear this. When I interviewed Doreen Virtue for my book she said this is something we do not do often enough—call on our angels. We seem to think we can handle everything all by ourselves. (LOL)
That was a lovely post Jan. Didn't you just wish you could have bought her another icecream. Poor little dear. I am sure your prayers helped her that day and that the angels kept a close watch over her.
xoxo
A sad and heartbreaking scene that happens all too often. That little girl was blessed that you were there with a heart to plead on her behalf.
I'm sure the little girl somehow sensed the love you were sending her - and just reading your words I felt it too - thank you!
Thank you Jan - this is so timely. I too call on the angels but it hadn't occurred to me to ask for their help with a little friend of mine who currently needs it. Bless you.
Hi Annie,
Yes, I did wish I could have bought her another ice cream, but I also know from experience with hostile parents that that sort of thing doesn't go too well. :-( So love and blessings will have to suffice for treats for now...
Cheryl,
It IS a scene that happens far too often--one I often witness in the supermarket especially. I wish parents could project themselves out into the future to see how what they say to their kids can have a long lasting impact. I do believe that prayers and blessings help...
Jan, what a powerful story! I am so glad you were there to witness what that little girl experienced and that you called upon the angels for her. You are such a loving and kind person. I will remember this forever.
Rochelle,
Your response reminds me once again of how important it is to hold ALL with whom we come in contact with our highest regard. :-) All of us sending love and well wishes, what a picture. :-)
Rosemarie,
Glad to hear this post reminded you that you could do this too for your dear ones too. Especially those who cannot speak up for themselves. I appreciate your comment. :-)
Jodi,
Oh, you are too sweet. Takes one kind soul to know another, I think. I imagine you often bless others along your way too. Be well!
Jan,
What an inspiring post. I was touched by the tenderness you felt toward the little girl. You chose such a gentle, yet powerful response! Thank you for reminding me today that the path of kindness is the only path I need to be concerned with.
Rose,
I appreciate your kind thoughts. And, yes, especially as I age I'm discovering that kindness IS the path. I hope it is for you too. For all of us. I think the Dalai Lama may have said it best when he described his religion as "kindness."
Thank you for this post Jan. I really appreciate this reminder that the angels are always available to be called on and it can be done so quickly...in an instant!
Bless you for sharing the love.
You know Jan, I see myself in that little girl, and I felt touched that you called upon angels for me and every other being in the world that has ever suffered. I go deeper and deeper into the lovingkindness practice everytime you write about it.
One of my favorites is mint chip, too! I also love chocolate and coffee ice cream:)
Great story. We've probably all seen this sort of scene all too often. Sending out metta to the girl was wonderful, and I would say it's also good to send out metta to the "perpetrators." Everyone does the best they can under the circumstances of conditioning.
Kate,
Thank you. After this experience, I have an even greater sense of how important it is to recognize the emotion when it arises within us and drop the "story" we tell about it -- then grab hold of the kindest response. :-)
Mermaid,
What a dear way to think about this scenario...this little girl as you and all children in the world who may suffer. :-) I thank you for that.
And I love your choices of ice cream. Let's have a cone together some day, ok?
Kaushik,
I SO appreciate what you are saying here. I knew that I "should" also offer lovingkindness to the perpetrators, but in that moment I was not ready. It was all I could do to drop the story around the parents and focus in on the little girl. Later, I did enfold mom and dad with metta...
(Still accessing my Buddha-nature on this one.)
Jan this is just beautiful. I remember a similar incident myself, when I was a child and my Dad scolded me for dropping my ice cream...it still hurts a little bit remembering. I suppose that's why I insisted my girls have their ice cream in cups with the cone on top until I felt sure they could balance the ice cream on the cone...I guess I was protecting them...at least I thought I was.
Anyway, what a kind hearted way to call upon angels for a stranger, a child in need.
blessing upon you tonight,
Laura
Laura,
Oh, your sharing is so tender too. :-) We are very vulnerable as children and we carry both little and big hurts within us for a very long time, don't we? May we all be more mindful of our speech with our young ones...
This brought tears to my eyes. It's always so heartbreaking to see people being cruel to each other, but when a trusted adult is intentionally cruel to a child, it is especially disturbing. I hope this little girl felt the love of the angels you called upon.
xo
Angela
Angela,
You have a heart as wide as the world. What a love you are...May we all be more kind and hold one another in loving embrace....with the help of angels, too!
Kids and ice cream cones, what a tricky combination. Like Laura, I used to ask for a cup with my kids' cones so they had a safety net of sorts.
Jan, your request for angelic assistance was a beautiful response that helped that little girl, I'm sure. After reading this I will be more conscious of ways I can do this for strangers. For years I have asked my angels to support loved ones in tough times. It makes me feel better, too.
Jan,
What a lovely response to what happened with that little girl.
Thanks for sharing that.
Sharon,
I'm glad this spoke to your heart. And that you may be reminded to appeal to the angels in support of others. I know I will do even more often, as a result of this incident. Hugs!
Sue,
So happy the response to this wee one touched your heart. May all of our youngest beings be wisely and lovingly cared for!
Hi Jan - what a wonderful conclusion to an unhappy interlude .. I am sure that child will be blessed during her life.
Brilliant idea for all of us to do .. life is so difficult and unfair for so many - most often to those who are vulnerable ..
Thank you for another wonderful thought idea .. Hilary
Hilary,
Yes, sad, but definitely up to us to shift that unwholesome energy. My hope is that we will all be more aware of those who struggle and align ourselves with compassionate thoughts and gestures for their benefit.
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