By:  Linda Law

   My precious husband of almost 30 years was born on Valentines Day.  He always teased me about being "My Valentine" so I didn't receive Valentine gifts for many years... Many of you may have read about the Yellow Roses that I received for almost six years after he passed away....with a lovely card, always with a note, " I will always love you"..........no signature.   No matter what I did or who I asked, no one ever came forward to admit how they were sent, so I just let the investigating go....and realized that My Valentine had sent an Angel to make sure I wasn't forgotten on this special day!

   He passed away unexpectedly on December 7th, and so you can imagine how difficult the Christmas season was for me, as I was in the deepest shock and grief at that time.   I was the Regional Manager of a huge company, and traveled all over the US and was now alone, and on bereavement leave.  Although I checked in I knew I couldn't return to work, as I was in the depths of pain; not certain if I could manage to return at all.  Each day was more difficult than the next, and I had become almost suicidal; although no one knew because I began to shut people away from me.

   Every couple of days the Maintenance Supervisor would stop by to check on me, and bring my mail or packages from the office.  I would always instruct him to place the items on the dining table, and he would try to console me, then he just turned away, leaving me to my misery and tears.  My eyes were always swollen shut from crying and the only time I did actually cry was when I went into the shower! I knew no one would hear me, and it was almost like a private place for me to grieve.  I would sit on the floor of the shower and let the hot water pour over me and sob until I was totally spent!  After the shower, I would put on a fresh gown, and go back to the huge den and sit on the sofa in front of the fireplace and stare at the Christmas tree with the tiny lights.  I originally had placed his Urn of Ashes on the mantel, but then I found that I could get through the day easier if I placed him next to me on the sofa... Eventually, I learned to tuck him under the covers with me and we both slept on the sofa.  It was the closest to comfort I came to.

   On Christmas Eve the maintenance man stopped by once again (altho many people stopped or called, I always found a way to move them along...I didn't want to deal with people no matter how caring or kind).  He delivered more mail, and said to me, "Miss Linda, please open your cards and some of those packages...people love you and are worried about you...and they want to let you know how much they care."   After he left, I sat on the sofa and kept staring at the lights on the tree, and then I noticed the pile on the dining table was overflowing. 

  Late that night I began to sort through the cards and read the lovely words that so many had sent. There were also many small packages with gifts from employees and vendors and friends.  I opened one package and inside was a jewel box and inside the box was a beautiful diamond cluster ring in the shape of a baseball diamond.  There was no card, it had been shipped from a well known department store.  The box was addressed to me!  Another box held another blue velvet jewel box, and inside was a matching bangle gold bracelet with eleven diamonds set on top, resembling a large wedding band.  Again, there was no card, and it was from the same store.

  It was too late to make phone calls, but I tried anyway, and was connected to a customer service representative who was on duty, and she was very kind, advising me that the jewelry items had been purchased by my husband, and charged on his credit card.  She gave me the date the order had been placed, and when I began to backtrack, I realized that he had ordered the Christmas gifts for me three days before he died!   The doctor had released him on December 4th, and he was home one full day with me, but had to be returned by ambulance the following day.  He was gone within 24 hours! 

  My secretary told me that he had told her what he wanted to do, and that he had ordered the items as my surprise Christmas gifts, knowing that he would be home in time to wrap the packages once they were delivered.  What he did not know was that he would die....and he would not get to wrap the gifts, nor did he ever see them or the look on my face when I opened them!

    To me, these gifts are extra special because they are the last gifts he purchased for me himself...and as it turned out, he was gone and sitting with the King in Heaven, when I did finally open the package.  Sometimes we cannot know why things happen, or what the reasons are in the sequence....however; My precious husband made certain that I received this beautiful gift....after he was gone!  My Valentine sent me a Christmas Gift from beyond!

    Angels are all around us...so never take them for granted.  Always be expecting something good to happen, and it will!  Look for the beauty in life even when it is so dark and desolate that you are ready to give in.... I was near giving up....in those grief stricken days, weeks, months, and it's been 8 years, and I am still grieving... in my own way.  There are better days than others; and I have been blessed in more ways than I can count.  Open your heart and be ready.... your angel may be right at your doorstep...