Sunday, January 31, 2010

From Guidepost Magazine

In Good Company
By Angel Chapparo, Powder Springs, Georgia

My father worked in a dangerous neighborhood, but he learned he didn’t need to be afraid.

In the mid-1950s, my father migrated to Chicago and got a job as a dishwasher in a hotel downtown. The neighborhood was dangerous. Making matters worse, the distance from the hotel to the apartment where he was staying was far, and by the time his shift was over, the buses had stopped running.

“Pilar, last night someone was robbed and beaten outside,” my father’s coworker cautioned him as he clocked out of his shift. “Stay a little longer and wait for someone else to walk with you. It’s not safe.”

My dad was not a fearful man. “I’m tired,” he told her. “I need to get home.” But when he got to the door and looked out toward the dark and empty street, a shiver went down his spine. He made the sign of the cross and prayed to the Holy Trinity for protection.

Fortunately, on the way home, he didn’t encounter anyone. The streets were deserted. He arrived at his apartment safely.

The next morning, my father’s coworker approached him. “I’m glad you took my advice and waited for some company,” she said.

“What do you mean?” my father asked, confused. “I didn’t wait.”

“When you left, I saw you weren’t alone,” she insisted. “Who were those three people walking at your side?”

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8 comments:

Beth Niquette said...

What a wonderful story. When my children were small and we were on the road a lot more than we are now, an angel rescued my middle daughter from something terrible.

They were downstairs in a church basement while Alan and I were setting up the stage. My kids were sliding across the top of a long table in their stocking feet.

My middle girl slipped and was falling toward the cement wall, when someone grabbed her from behind and set her down on the floor.

When she looked around to thank that person, there was no one there.

After we got home that night, the kids discovered red finger marks on my daughter's sides.

One thinks stuff like this happens in another time, or in another country to missionaries. But it happened in Oregon. There really are angels watching over us!

Thank you for this story. I wonder how many times we are rescued and do not have a clue!

I think what we call starlings here, are actually what you folks call grackles there. They are black with white eyes, and descend upon the fields in clouds...

We have a family of them trying to nest in the side of our house. Not this year!!! They are nasty dirty birds.

Arkansas Patti said...

What a wonderful story. Some things only have one explanation.

Renie Burghardt said...

That is a wonderful story!
Guideposts Books, (not the magazine) just bought a story from me about angels. It will be in their Christmas release "They Come to the Manger: Creatures Great and Small," available in September. I am excited about it. Can you tell? :~}

Have a nice evening.

Renie

mommanator said...

Nice

Anonymous said...

Very beautiful!

Merle said...

Dear Patty ~~ Great story and we do
have angels watching over us in lots
of situations.
I am so glad you enjoyed the story of Jasmine - it was a good one.
Post those Viruses if you want to. They didn't mean much to me.
And I would love to be invited to your Rump Roast- pity about the distance. It sounded yummy, Patty.
Take care, my friend, Love, Merle.
Glad you are seeing some sunshine.

dyanna said...

I loved the story.I really like all these stories on your blog.

Twisted Fencepost said...

Loved this story!
Just shows, all we have to do is ask.