An Angel in a Trilby
A Thought on Sunday
from the desk of Fr. Ignatius Waters C.P.
Sunday 6th April 2014
An Angel in a Trilby!
Some teachers in different places gave young children the task of writing letters to God. The result is a fascinating collection on all kinds of subjects. My favourites are:
“Dear God, why didn’t you tell Eve not to trust the snake? Then she wouldn’t have eaten that stupid old apple. Did you secretly want her eat it? Yours sincerely, Tristan.”
“Dear God, I’m sorry I wasn’t good in church on Sunday. I get bored when the man talks. I’ll try to be better next time and not make too much noise. Jo.”
Dear God, my mummy says not to talk to strangers, but she talks to strangers on the bus sometimes. But they don’t give her sweets. Janet. P.S. How tall are you?
Dear God, The angels talk to me at night. When I go to sleep they come and take me away from my body. They take me to a shining place and teach me how to make the lights shine. When I am grown up I can use the light to make people better. Thank you, Ronnie.
Dear God, I saw an angel last week. I was in town with my Mum and there was a mad man shouting. He’s always there, everyone stays away from him. But behind him was an angel. She looked very sad, but she was trying to calm him down. At last he stopped shouting and followed her away. I know she was an angel because my mum couldn’t see her. Best, Una.
Many of the children’s letters mention angels. I was told a lovely story about angels by a lovely couple who come to Mount Argus every Sunday. Some years ago they were minding their little grandson. They brought him to the Park and to the Shopping Centre and after a long day they eventually got him settled down to sleep in what had been the boy’s bedroom.
Granny talked to him and reassured him and told him if he woke up or was afraid he could come into their room. And of course she has one ear open all night! Early morning, in he comes clutching his Teddy. He climbs in beside Gran and Granddad and soon they all doze off. Sometime later Granny is roused from her slumbers by the little lad announcing, “Granny, there’s an angel at the end of your bed!” Gran, half asleep says, “That’s o.k. – he’s just minding us!” “But Granny, you can’t see him!” What does he look like?” Gran drowsily asks. “He’s smiling at us and he has a hat on and he’s touching it!”
Gran is wide awake in an instant because the little lad is describing perfectly her very protective elder brother who had died many years before. He always wore a trilby hat and would tip his hat when greeting you. And the child had never known him!
They could never forget the night they were visited by two angels!