Guardian Angel on Guard

My first posting after completing my internship in pastoral ministry was in a remote place on the islands of Fiji. Whenever I went out, I had to walk through an area where drug addicts lived. It was dangerous for a single female. Sometimes I had to walk through their village several times a day and sometimes at night too. One night a group of them came toward my house, but they were in for a surprise. They did not expect to meet up with my little guardian angel. I named him Canine. Shortly after I arrived to take that assignment, I found a little puppy in a ditch close to my house. I took him in, bathed him, warmed him up, fed him, and basically saved him from death. He quickly grew. Every night he would sleep on my front porch, with his paws crossed and his head nestled over them. Every so often, he would lift his head and scan the horizon. Inside, I slept peacefully, knowing he was there. On that night, as he scanned the horizon, he saw several intruders approaching the house. Their intent was not friendly.

Canine barked his lungs out and charged at the group.

He frightened them, and they quickly abandoned their mission. My faithful friend then went about circling the house the whole night, barking fiercely, making sure nobody came near my house from any direction. He continued that tour of duty for a few nights.

Afterward, he settled back on the front porch with his paws again crossed and his head nestled over them. Every so often, he would scan the horizon.

When some kids would come over during the day, wanting to pick mangoes from the tree in my backyard, they could not get past Canine. I thanked God for sending that guardian angel to look after me, a single female pastor, as I lived and worked in a dangerous place. Truly, “the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him” (Psalm 34:7, NLT). Do you have a story about your guardian angel? We all have a guardian angel.

At that time, mine was my faithful dog.

Have you ever had someone in your life who looked after you in such a way that it could only have been an angel? Then you have a story to share!

Romina Lata Masih