I usually spend holidays alone, and today, April 5, 2015, Easter, was no exception. I don’t really plan to keep my holidays to myself. I would have loved to be with a group of children hunting for Easter eggs. I would have loved to dress up in bright new Easter clothes in colors that glorified the coming of spring. I would have loved to sit down at a table with my loved ones praying and giving thanks before joining in on a feast of good food, conversation, and laughter.
But that isn’t my life right now. I am single with no children. My whole family is back in Kansas while I am in California. And even though I have caring friends, they have their own families and traditions to enjoy today.
So, I just spent this holy day like any other day. I woke up around 8:30 am and enjoyed a creamy smooth cup of coffee. When I have to go to work, I usually don’t get a chance to relax and daydream over coffee. I sipped the hot drink and thanked God for my peaceful morning. I listened to gospel music and sang along in joyous celebration. I spent the majority of the day working on my new novel. I felt so surprisingly inspired today that the words just poured out of me. For some reason, on holidays, every little thing seems so precious to me even if I have done it a million times before. I thought about my life and my lonely holiday and for some reason instead of feeling depressed, this story kept ran through my head.
About two years ago, I decided I needed to get away for a weekend. I drove the four hours to Vegas and spent the evening walking the strip, taking pictures, and seeing the Shaina Twain concert. Even though, I was having a great time, I was feeling restless as I walked back to the Flamingo Hotel. I went to my room feeling sad, nauseous, lonely, and nervous. I turned on the TV but couldn’t drown out the sound of loud, sad crying. Oh, the sobs weren’t mine. I could hear a baby crying in the room next door. The cries just made me feel worse. It’s hard to hear a baby cry in public sometimes and know I can do nothing about it. My instinct is to love and comfort the baby, but I certainly couldn’t do that now.
So I finally laid down in bed, listened to the baby cry, and prayed for peace and comfort for both of us. Finally, the baby and I both quieted down and I fell into a deep sleep. I slept for a few hours when suddenly I came shooting awake. I could hear someone moving around in my room! I was a little unnerved about this. I had checked to make sure the entrance and balcony doors were both locked before I had went to bed. I caught my breath and tried not to make any noise as I heard the footsteps of someone walking around my room. I laid perfectly still as I listened to the sound of someone fumbling in my opened suitcase. I fought back a scream as I felt the bed suddenly rock back and forth as if someone had knocked into the side of it. It was only when I felt the mattress sag down on the opposite side from where I was that I came shooting straight up in the bed. It felt as if someone had actually sat down on the mattress. I sat up, turned to look to my right…
…and there sitting on the side of the bed was an angel. I stared in shock. The angel’s back was to me so I could see her wings perfectly. She did not have full large wings like I have seen in pictures and visions of other angels. Her wings were small, full, curved at the top by her shoulders and then feathered out to rounded points by her waist. The wings were situated on either side of her spine. Her thin dark blond hair was pulled back in a small loose bun at the nape of her neck. She had on a gown that was flowing but set close to her body. Her gown was off-white, silky and loose at the top showing the upper part of her back and shoulders. I saw the curve of her waist and just the top part of her legs.
What really got my attention, though, was that her head was bent forward and rested in the palm of her left hand. I don’t understand why the angel had her hand up to her forehead. She seemed so sad and I didn’t understand why. I did feel, however, that this angel was taking away pain. She was taking away all of the hurt and confusing I was feeling. I wondered for a moment if this was why the baby had stopped crying, too. Did the angel comfort the baby first before coming to see me?
Suddenly, my attention was drawn across the room. I looked towards the windows and then, for some reason, turned to look at the clock. It was 3 am. I turned back to look at the angel…and she was gone. I wish I could have talked to her. But it really didn’t matter. I was safe and warm and soon drifted back off to a peaceful sleep.
I wondered for a moment while this particular memory kept presenting itself to me today and then I suddenly realized something. I was reminded of God, angels, and love today. I guess I really didn’t spend Easter by myself.
Happy Easter, everyone! God Bless You!
Author Jamie Zunick 