One evening I was racing home when I noticed the cars ahead were swerving to miss something.   

The obstacle was a huge brown pelican, resting in the middle of a six lane highway; an accident waiting to happen.

Especially tenderhearted when it comes to God’s creatures, I stopped to help him.

He wasn’t afraid as I approached him, however he wasn’t rattled by blaring horns and shrieking drivers either.

Not good.

I stomped my feet, and hollered to shoo him off the road and into the lake.

He cooperatively waddled to the curb, and slid down to the water’s edge. 

The minute I walked away, he was back on the road.

I tried again. No luck.

Two more failures and I was at my wits end. How does one rescue a stubborn critter with a death wish?

Suddenly a red pick up truck pulled up, and a man hopped out.

“Need some assistance?”   

He was about 6’2” and gorgeous, with penetrating blue eyes, shiny black hair, muscular tanned skin and a tender smile flanked by dimples.

Wow.

“I’m going to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary and he’s welcome to ride along. I have cages with me,” offered the man, introducing himself as Daniel. 

“Are you with the Sanctuary?” I asked.

He nodded.

Though a stranger he seemed very familiar; as though I’d known him forever.

And his timing couldn’t have been better.

I held my breath as Daniel gently covered the bird’s head with a towel, and placed him in the cage without struggle.    

The pelican was finally safe.

Later when I called the Sanctuary to check on the bird, I asked if Daniel was there. No one knew him or had heard of him.

How odd.

Even weirder: I never forget a face, but I couldn’t remember his. Yet I was certain that we’d met before.

“Mommy, I’ll bet he’s your angel. That’s why you know him” insisted my little girl Julie.

Kids never cease to amaze me.

Could she be right?  

It never occurred to me that God would send an angel to help an ailing bird.

Then I remembered struggling to hold back traffic. Perhaps the bird wasn’t in as much danger as I was trying to rescue him.

So Heaven dispatched my angel to save us both.

Daniel’s familiarity made sense. If he were my angel my spirit would know him, even if I didn’t recognize him in the flesh.  

What a precious realization; to be so adored by the Father that He would send one of the Heavenly host to protect us.

Vulnerable mortals aren’t always alert to the threats around them until it’s too late.

What a comfort to know that our loving God specializes in rescue.

Psalm 91:11 For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.  

Though we don’t always see them with our eyes, You have positioned angels all around us. May we never cease to worship the loving Father who guides them. Amen.

Michelle Close Mills (c)