Wonderful angels amongst us

An inspired pen's gratitude

The season of peace, love and joy doesn't need to be on Christmas in particular. After all, sharing, giving and caring for the lonely, ill, alone or grieving can be showered anytime.

Right now I'm thinking of angels, human angels in our midst. Oh yes, Virginia, it doesn't have to be a Santa Claus. There are people in our midst who show the spirit of sharing, who reach out to those who are disquieted, sick, hurting and in need of care. The human angel, or the giver can be a friend, an acquaintance, a neighbour, a colleague, an office mate, or someone we meet in the by-ways of life. These wonderful caring human angels are our "good Samaritans" so to speak.


It's always a blessing when people truly care. It could be family, friends, relatives or work mates.  These people possess wonderful keys that can open great doors to our lives. Sometimes they provide entrance to places we would never dare to tread or go by ourselves. Sometimes they even surprise us with gifts we don't deserve.

For some brief moments in time, we have a carer, a family, a sumptuous lunch or afternoon tea, and wonderful gift of friendships - what a difference a day makes, what a wonderful feeling to those who are cared. With these thoughts in mind, I remember Mother Teresa, that most kind-hearted Catholic nun who is credited for having said,

"Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty."
~ Mother Teresa ~

So too, it's wonderful to experience that gift of giving without any thought of receiving anything in return. I know, email is the easiest way to keep in touch.  There's Skype, and phones.  Are you across the miles from people you care for? Go get a simple card, write your meaningful thoughts, cheer your loved ones or friends. They'll love that. I always do,  relishing the old traditional card I can touch and feel. Yes, it doesn't have to be Christmas that angels do their work.

To all human angels out there, those wonderful carers and thoughtful people, this post is for you, - thank you very much from the heart. May God bless you all a thousand-fold.

Strong and enduring tulips in the snow

On endurance and strength, inspired by tulips in the snow.

The photo "Tulips in the Snow" is a compliment of my Dutch friend Wim Vingerhoed, a Mozart enthusiast from Eindhoven, Holland. Wim has given me numerous wonderful images of Mozart, flowers and nature, but this one, tulips in the snow" has always been a favourite. A lovely sight of yellow-coloured tulips in snow. Ik wens je een prettige dag.

It's spring here in Sydney, although at times we experience the four seasons without snow. On the other side of the hemisphere where other friends live, it is autumn, and perhaps might make more encore after the actual start of winter. Beholding the photo taken by my friend Wim, I wish I'm over where he took it, go out and get snowed on. My mind wanders. In my musings, the cold air seeps through my being while I delightfully witness how the snow clings to the tulips and almost cover some new buds on the trees around.

Tulips, most popular in the Netherlands, don't bend over or resign to the cold. They stand tall against the gusts of winter air, with their bloom, yellow in this photo dusted with snow. Look at the lovely image: they're brave and strong, unresigning to the cold. I love tulips alongside roses and orchids. Spring is the season expected to recover from winter's extreme cold. But winter is not necessarily harsh.

I so admire the fortitude of tulips in the snow, almost in rebellious defiance to the cold winter winds. What endurance and strength amid life's challenges if we let go and let God.



Image credit:

"Tulips in the Snow" by Wim Vingerhoed.