~~AN ANGEL UNAWARE~~
The boys and I went fishing
at Memorial Park one day,
And although the fish weren't biting,
we decided we would stay.
I reached behind me for some things,
my coffee and a cup.
I was startled when I saw them,
this stranger and his pup.
His eyes were bluer than any sky,
his hair was white as snow,
And when he smiled it seemed just like,
his face was all aglow.
He was dressed just like an engineer,
the driver of a train,
His hat and clothes were spotless,
not a wrinkle or a stain.
I think his age was fifty,
or sixty I would guess.
But his youthful face looked twenty
or maybe even less.
I asked him if he'd join us,
it seemed like the natural thing to do.
He took a seat between us,
he wasn't like most folks I knew.
At first his talk was casual,
like the real nice day we had.
Then he talked about his life
and when he was a lad.
He talked about a book he read
that was given by a friend,
About the cancer in his throat,
that somehow couldn't mend.
He talked about a lot of things
that happened in his life,
How some of it was very good,
but a lot of it was strife.
I was going to ask him something ,
but he sort of stopped me there,
He turned and looked right through me,
which seemed to be a stare.
He started talking once again,
it was all about my past,
He said "I know it's not been easy,
but believe me it won't last.
I know you've had a lot of hurt,
I see the tears you've cried.
And please forget about the thoughts
you've had on suicide."
Once again he stared right through me
and I couldn't say a word,
He sure knew lot's about me,
was the strangest thing I heard.
Then he turned to Todd and said,
"My son you sure are blessed,
You have the patience of old Job,
you're not like all the rest.
You're quite a patient fisherman,
the kind that God can use,
To catch the very souls of man
and tell them of the news.
You are really very special,
God has called you from the start,
And I know that He has spoken
already to your heart."
The only thing he said to Chip was,
"now you take care my boy,
Try to have a good day,
let it bring you lots of joy."
His voice was very gentle
as he stood there in the heat,
And said that he was very glad
that we'd had a chance to meet.
He put one hand on Todd and me,
saying "Now I really have to go,
But if you two will keep the faith,
someday you both will know."
The stranger stirred the little pup
from his very peaceful nap.
He shook our hands and said "Goodbye"
then tipped his pin stripped cap.
He said, "Thank you for the coffee
and may our Lord bless you,"
We turned around to say goodbye,
but they were gone...it's true!
Now I doubt if you believe me,
but they vanished in thin air,
Neither of them could be found,
but we know that they were there.
Now this really happened to us,
but I've only told a few,
Not too many would believe me,
and I wonder if you do.
Let me ask you just one question,
tell me what you'd think,
If someone up and vanished,
before your eyes could blink?
Now was it our imagination,
were the man and pup both there,
Or..were we entertaining an angel unaware???
He doesn't like it too much when I go into his room and clean it "my way." but he is one of the happiest kids I have ever known. When he comes home, he will say "Oh no, not my room again," but he will be happy for the clean room. He is the one I have told you about before, the one who gets up singing, "Zipp-a-dee-do-dah' zipp-a-dee-a, my oh my what a wonderful day. Plenty of sunshine coming my way...zipp."...etc: He also sings, "Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day, I've got a wonderful feeling, everything's going my way." and I get a hug in the morning with him singing "You are my sunshine." I find myself asking, "What in the world makes this kid so happy?" I said that to say this. If only all of us could have this kind of attitude about life, if we could only see the positive side of things, if only we could just "be happy" no matter where we are on life's road and no matter what is happening at the moment. We can accept the responsibility for our own attitude towards life to be happy or unhappy. The words we speak to one another and to ourselves are either creative or destructive. The power of life and death are in our tongues and we can only reap what our tongues sow. If we could just stop for a moment and seriously take a good look inside our hearts and ask ourselves..."Am I happy, am I really, truly happy?" Do we even know what the meaning of that word is!? If we look into the word, "happy" can we honestly say, "Yes, I am happy." 
