Sending me angels

I spent my morning hanging out at home, doing nothing in particular. I had plans later with our friends Jeff & Lisa for an afternoon of Scrabble. As I was getting ready, an overwhelming sense of grief came over me and my tears would not stop. I knew I needed to move, to get out of the house, just change direction. Anything to get out of my own head. So I left early to head across town. As I was just a short distance from their home I received a text from Joe’s sister Kathy, asking what kind of car Joe had been showing back in September. On that fateful day, his last good day. I replied “1979 Ford Fairmont”. Her response was they had come upon a car show in town.

I hadn’t thought about that car, or that car show, in quite a while. Less than two minutes later my phone dinged again. This time a message from a friend sharing pictures that had come up in his Facebook memories today. They were of Joe and the black Ford truck he had several years ago. AT A CAR SHOW.

By now I’m balling. As I pulled into the driveway at Jeff & Lisa’s and climbed out of the car, she was there to just hug me. I made my way inside and told them I just needed a minute. I was finally able to stop crying and tell them the whole story.

As we sat down to play Scrabble, we talked about life, about my craziness, and we gathered our tiles to play. Lisa turned to me and said “I don’t want to make you cry again, but . . .” As she turned her Scrabble tiles toward me, the message was loud and clear.

Joe knew I was struggling today. He managed to get to me in multiple ways, and to comfort his sister who happened upon that car show and was flooded with emotion. I found so much comfort in all of these signs.

When Joe & I first met, I heard this song on the radio but couldn’t find it anywhere to buy on cassette or CD. I didn’t want the Delbert McClinton version. I wanted this one, by Jerry Lynn Williams. My Joe went to the local radio station and somehow got the DJ to give him a copy of the CD with this song on it. It is one of my most cherished gifts from him.

I firmly believe God allows our loved ones in heaven, our angels, to find their way back to us just when we need them the most. I am forever grateful for that.

He keeps sending me angels,
To keep me from cryin’
He keeps sending me angels,
Sweet and true
He keeps sending me angels,
Just… like… you…