My daughter recently shared quite an extraordinary experience …
“Mommy! Guess what happened last night? I saw three ANGELS! I woke up and there they were…watching me! One was tall and skinny and she was up on the curtains, another was on the other side of the curtains and she was smiling like the skinny angel. Then there was a little one that was kind of chubby sitting with her legs criss-cross applesauce on my stuffed animal bin! She was so cute, mom! She had a little look like she was going to giggle. They were all white but you could see through them. They were all looking at me and kept smiling, and I smiled back. Then, when I woke up this morning, the angels were gone.”
Angels. My baby saw angels.
What we can’t see, what we can’t feel, and what we can’t quite understand…we long to know. Most of us walk in faith, believing in all we can’t see, feel, or understand. Within our sacred sanctuaries, we search for purpose and protection while we find peace in knowing we are cared for and loved by an Almighty Powerful God. Faith’s landscape is tricky terrain. There are some who choose to believe in the power of humanity over divinity. And yet there are others whose souls deny those deep waters, so they build comfortable barriers of protection that keep them safe and buoyant while floating atop the unknown. I always wonder if they too, yearn for understanding and search in secret…
Is there really a Heavenly Father? Do Angels watch over me? Am I loved and cared for by an Omnipotent Creator? Where is the proof?
I believe these are the timeless questions we all long to answer.
There are powerful stories… divine encounters that exalt Heavenly Realms in some miraculous way, connecting far beyond our own existence. We listen or read about these experiences with the awe and curiosity of a child, and perhaps we doubt the reality as an adult. Our world is rich with questions, yet too often we find emptiness and echoes of silent answers. We pursue evidence, and get lost in the dark swirling reasoning of why and how. Is it real? Is it true? Do I believe?
Is there A Living God?
Don’t we all long for something tangible? Do we sometimes wonder in the corner of our thoughts, if all the glory and divine power and majesty of the Heavens is open to all?
Or even open at all…
If only we could put our hands in His Side. (John 20:27)
My daughter has been told countless times, how her Father in Heaven loves and cherishes His beloved children. She has always had such a passion for God, witnessed by her constant desire to talk about Jesus and sing church songs. We have prayed together, sang together, and her endless questions about God reveal her devoted passion to seek truth. As she suffered through difficult struggles in her young life, I believe her passionate faith inspired her strength. There is something so innocent and powerful, when a child’s spirit soars. It’s been a beautiful testimony for me to realize God’s Hand in her life. My girl has grown to believe.
And now she has seen His Angels…
I told her to write down exactly what she saw. She resisted with “Aw mom, why do I have to do that?”, as if it was a torturous homework assignment. She doesn’t get it. She doesn’t realize that in that wondrous night, she experienced what most would never live to see in a lifetime. She was witness to the miracle of knowing, not just believing. She was blessed with an astounding truth to behold.
Proof.
And as time passes, and the world sucks her in and swirls her around into questioning and wondering…
As she grows older and the world wages war on her faith with circumstances beyond her control…
When she limits her vision to only what she sees and feels and understands…
There will come a time, when she will remember the moment she saw three angels smiling at her.
And she will know.
Lovely. How special for her 🙂
I think the story which always stuck with me was of a woman whose church was supporting a couple of missionaries in [insert name of war-torn, guerilla-fighter-overrun country I can no longer remember, here] and one day felt compelled to pray for them, but also to call other members of the congregation and make them pray for this couple…she didn’t know why. But she did, and a number of them prayed.
A while later, a band of guerrillas were arrested and one mentioned that they’d seen a seemingly unguarded tent (belonging to the missionaries) they’d thought might be worth pillaging, but once they’d gone back and followed it up, they changed their minds because there were a number of men standing guard around it.
The missionaries were confused by this news, that their tent had been bypassed….and what guards?
The number of armed men was the same as the number of people who had prayed.
Still gives me chills.
CHILLS!!!! WOW wow wow WOW!!! That story is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!!!! I’m so glad you shared it- these are the things that truly ignite my fire of faith!! I would love to read every last one of stories like these. I know there are many far and wide around the world. I want to KNOW them ALL!
Aww, Chris I totally believe and have had a few of my own experiences when I was younger myself. So wish I would have written them down and your suggestion on that was so perfect and yet as a child your daughter’s reaction was spot on. Still loved reading this and very much warmed my heart and do believe Cassidy is so blessed in this and so much more 😉
Oooh!! Do you remember those experiences Janine? I would LOVE to hear about them if you do! I need to ask Cass if she remembers this now- I’m betting she does. 🙂 If not, we have back up!
That is a beautiful image. I’m glad you had her write it down.
Me too Sarah. I need to ask her about it now- a few years later to see if she remembers it as vividly as she did then!
Is it real? Yes.
Is it true? Yes.
Do I believe? Yes.
My sister is one of them.
Sending you love, sweet Chris. xxxxxx
Cassidy is such a gem!
Oh yes she is my precious friend! Oh YES she IS. xxxxxxxOOOOO
To know her Father has His angels there for her, to have SEEN them, such a precious gift for a precious girl! I love that you had her write it down…so you! I just love that Cass ; )
Isn’t that amazing Tam? I need to ask her if she remembers this… I surely do, and I pray she never ever forgets this glorious moment in her life! Wanna know the coolest part of this story?
We were leaving for our trip to Florida, and I had no inspiration to write and really needed to come up with something before we left. I kept praying that night for God to give me inspiration.
And the next morning is when Cassidy came down to tell me about her experience.
Is that amazing? I was in awe of the answer to my prayer.
So lovely!!! Cassidy is angel herself!
AW! Thanks mom! I wholeheartedly agree!! 🙂
I always wonder if kids see more than we do.. with their big open hearts. Did we see such things? Do we forget?
My cats seem to see something! Same with my kids.
I know!!! I wonder all the time what we are missing… I just know there are angels all around us. I would give anything to see one though. It fascinates me to no end. The wonder of it all- is comforting.
The Old Italian Grandmothers and Aunts in my family for generations back always said that all children can see angels and loved ones who have passed on and the ability to do so generally fades when they are old enough to speak. Some hold on to the gift past that point. Kidzilla spoke very early and so we had some amazing experiences through her. She used to look at the ceiling in her room at night and talk about my Grandparents – she died when Kidzilla was 9 months old, he died nine months later (of a broken heart, if you ask me, but that’s another story). Anyway, she would talk about them and describe them and tell us what they were doing. My Mom and I believe wholeheartedly that it was my Grandparents checking in on all of us. And if it wasn’t? I still like the idea. It’s comforting. I’ve had so many things over the last few years since they’re gone that I just know were them…great stories.
This is a wonderful thing for your daughter to have experienced and to share with you.
Oh Lisa- that is just so beautiful that Kidzilla had such a powerful experience- and you were witness to it!! What a comfort for you to have those heaven moments with your grandparents!! I just love that so much. WOW.
I have always believed that children have a closer connection to the heaven world than we do…or maybe it is just that they have more innocence, so it is more open to them. Such an amazing story Chris. :)-Ashley
I believe that too- and I find it just so fascinating!! I would love to know of all those stories- because I’m sure there are countless children who have experienced something from the heaven world. I just love that…
This is such a lovely story. I always talk to my children about God’s presence and his angels being there. It is important for them and for me. Love that you had her write it down too!
OH how I just love that you talk to your kids about God’s presence and his angels being there! That is just so beautiful… They will always remember those talks in their hearts and surely it will ground their faith. 🙂
how wonderful. thanks for sharing.
Thanks babe! I’m so glad you read it. 🙂
I love that Cassidy told you about her experience with such awe and joy – I’m sure it will be something she will never forget. You were smart to have her write it down, Chris.
I need to ask her about it now- a few years later and see if she still holds that memory with the same awe and joy. 🙂
So neat. Kids experience some of the most amazing things. I thought of you when I did my Chicken Soup For The Soul interview with the Editor-In-Chief. You should definitely submit there!
Oh Susan!! I am so encouraged by your support in that! I have been over to listen to the podcast three times now, and haven’t had the time to finish it! I WILL. I know how important that information will be for me…and I really need to invest my time in this pursuit. Thank you for that needed nudge!!
I love that you had her write the experience down. Like Tamara said, kids are so open to seeing more than we do. I hope she remembers this amazing experience forever and understands how lucky she is to have it.
I do too Jen… I don’t think many can say they saw angels! And I agree- kids hearts and spirits seem to be much more open to the spiritual world. It’s so fascinating to me…
I truly love this. Gave me the glory bumps! I vividly remember seeing an angel when I was a child. The flash of light was like nothing I could describe. My mother saw it as well. We will never forget. That angel appeared at a very disturbing and scary time in our lives and it was just the confirmation we needed that He was with us. God bless your sweet angel. She’ll never forget.
Oh Susannah! What a powerful moment for you and your mom!! You should write about it!
That was absolutely beautiful, Chris, and you were so wise to tell her to write it down…and the reasons why it is so important showed great insight. She is a lucky little girl to have such a wise mommy.
This was such a beautiful story. I think often of the innocent, child-like faith and the unwavering trust in God that I remember from my earliest days. It is a beautiful thing to know the Lord from such a young age.
I truly celebrate that my kids are so grounded in His Love!!! I just had a conversation with Cass last night while we were reading the bible- and as I shared about His Truth in one particular aspect- she nodded and agreed with what I was saying with total confidence and clarity. Oh, how much joy that brings me! Praying she never lets go of Him.
When I saw the movie Heaven is Real, I cried so much when it ended because it thought it was such a beautiful thing and so special for the kid to have experienced it.
I think she will thank you some day for asking her to write it down Chris. I wish they will appear to me too.
That book made a HUGE impact on me- and the kids I read it to in my 4th-6th grade Sunday school class. I took an entire summer to sit with them in the chapel and read the book to them every Sunday… and discuss everything about it. The kids still talk about it years later.
The movie was a disappointment to me- after reading the book. The book is just so much more powerful! Read it! If you cried after the movie, you will surely be affected by the details given in the book! 🙂
Hi Chris! I love this. And it’s great that you had her write it down. I wonder what she will think when she reads it years from now? Or if she will remember this dream?
I know that we all have beautiful, sensory connections to God from time to time. I can honestly say that I don’t write them down much, and maybe I should. It would encourage me when I am not feeling so close to God.
Blessings!
Ceil
Exactly Ceil!! I think we do need to record those ‘moments’ where God enters our lives and we surely feel or see or witness His Presence in some way. I hope she remembers this forever…
This story reminds me of the time I saw angels as a little girl. They talked to me and told me I was special. The memory has never faded, It was that strong. However, I never shared it with my mom because I was afraid she would think I was nuts. I imagine that your daughter will always remember this.
Oh Denise! That is incredible!! Wow. Would you be interested in writing about it over at my place? I run a devotional series that invites anyone to share anything about their faith journey. THIS story would be so powerful to share! 🙂
I remember going to visit my uncle in the hospital when I was quite young. He was very very sick — every time they thought he would get better, or do a new procedure, he would only get worse. My cousin and I would sit in the hospital room while our parents tended him, or just sat quietly. One morning, after a last effort surgery that had one half of his body removed due to whatever was eating away at him, we thought it might be our last visit: but he was in good spirits!! He said an angel had visited him. Now, he was a Christian then – but not quite both feet out of the world, if you know what I mean. He was actually quite the hell-raiser before he got Saved, and a few things were still lingering. But he renew a full commitment then, praying with his Angel. And from that morning on, he just got better each day, until finally he came home. And he lived the rest of his life as a strong, loving and absolutely devoted Man of God. He always shared about his angel visit – and whoever he told just HAD to believe him. The quiet and sure manner he told the tale and the shine of KNOWING in his eyes.
He has since passed on and I miss him greatly. He restored my faith in what a good man was, and what Faith truly meant. He and I, two sides of a coin: one seeing angels, the other demons: but both still coming to that place of KNOWING as a result.
Oh Leslie!! That story just blew me AWAY!! Wow wow wow…
What a testimony, for you BOTH.
My youngest is named after my husband’s aunt who passed away shortly before we found out we were pregnant. She is confident that Aunt Marg watches over her. She even says that Aunt Marg sleeps on the pillow beside her at night. She has never expressed truly seeing her like Cassidy did, but I wonder. The faith of children is so amazing sometimes.
Oh that is just so powerful Lisa! It’s really just amazing… The angelic world fascinates me- I think children are witness to more of it than we think.
I am so so glad that you wrote this down for Cassidy, Chris. Beautiful.
Me too, Kristi. Me too. XO
What an amazing story — a true story! 🙂 I had unreal migraines for months after a car accident when I was in my late 20s (I had a head injury). One day I got a migraine that I thought was going to do me in. For more than a day it felt like a fist-sized drill bit was going into my head. I couldn’t talk or cry, but tears just ran down my cheeks. I just prayed and prayed for God to take it away.
Fast forward a week or so and my mom is telling me (through tears) that she felt so helpless that she hadn’t been able to help me and she had prayed that angels would watch over me.
And for whatever reason, I remembered. I said, “Mom — there were angels in my room. I was in so much pain, but I opened my eyes I realized my room was full of angels.” I had hurt so much that even something so amazing had skipped my memory until right then.
We have an amazing God!
Love This! I truly believe that children are more….tuned in to the spiritual realm. We get so jaded as we grow older, yet we are called to be like little children! What a special story – thanks for sharing!
That is so true Dara… if only we had the faith and the eyes and the heart of a child! It is indeed a special story I will always hold on to!
This is so beautiful, i love how pure children’s hearts are to the things of God.
It’s really a beautiful thing, isn’t it Samantha? I will always remember this story… and I pray she does too!
What a beautiful story! May we all walk in faith with the eyes of a child. May we set aside the heart that has been burned, the eyes that have been tainted by the evils of the world, the legs that have grown weary…so that we may understand and BELIEVE all that God has in store for us.
I love that… so beautifully said!! Oh, if we have the faith of a child…
Oh how precious! I am just in awe of the purity of children’s hearts. It gives us an idea of how God sees us, as His children.