Angels Watching over Me

It was “farm day,” as Melissa called it. How she loved going with her dad to visit outlying homes in his parish. So many fun things to see: kittens, sometimes puppies, chickens, a calf or two, a flock of sheep, several loud goats, usually a few horses.

Quickly she had learned about keeping distance from turkeys. “Ready? It’s time to go,” Mom called. Hat in hand, Melissa appeared at the car.

Although Mom—several months pregnant—hadn’t accompanied them lately, this time she joined in. “Where are we going first?” Melissa asked.

Hearing “Gordie’s farm” made her even more excited.

Although Gordie was eight years old (to Melissa’s three-and-a-half years), they were friends. Besides, he had a pony—Nelly-Ned! At the farm, Gordie and Melissa wandered off together, hand in hand, to explore familiar places and delights.

Their last stop was Nelly-Ned’s paddock. “I was just about to take him for a trot,” Gordie said. “Want to go along?” What a question! Of course, she did! Hoisting Melissa onto the pony’s back, Gordie climbed up in front. “Hang on to me,” he told her.

“We won’t gallop. But we are riding bareback.” Nellie-Ned walked along the gravel path, Melissa hanging on tightly and singing at the top of her voice.

Gordie decided to take a shortcut across the meadow where some baby lambs were frolicking. Upon seeing the green grass ahead, Nelly-Ned broke into a trot.

Excited, Melissa relaxed her hold, clapping her hands with pure joy.

Then, oops! Sliding off the pony’s back, she landed on the soft grass. Far sturdier than her tiny size might suggest, Melissa hopped up and ran after Nellie-Ned, yelling, “Hey! Wait for me!” After a sedate ride to the lambs and back to the house, Melissa burst into the living room. “I rode Nelly-Ned and fell off! But I am fine.” Then the whole story came tumbling out. Melissa was indeed unhurt. “Angels watching over me,” Melissa explained simply, as only a child might. Whether special “farm days,” difficult days, or ordinary days, imagine how many times your angels have borne you up “lest you dash your foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:12, NKJV).

Thanking them in person will be more even fun than, well, a pony ride at age three!

Arlene R. Taylor