by Catherine Hellman
I have always loved angels. No, not winged ethereal beings, but angels as Mary Baker Eddy defined them. She wrote in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures that angels are “God’s thoughts passing to man; spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect; the inspiration of God’s goodness, purity, and immortality, counteracting all evil, sensuality, and mortality.” I love that! It seems to me that angels are our intuitions. They tap on us on the shoulder to remind us who is really in control, and who really loves us all. And that’s God.
Recently I was talking with a friend of mine. We were discussing different issues that were going on in our lives and how we could spiritually counteract anything we experience that isn’t in accord with God’s creation. One of the ways of doing that is through prayer. Towards the end of the conversation, he called me an angel.
At first, I didn’t know how to reply to this. I wasn’t an angel! Too many mistakes in my life proved that. But then my friend said something interesting. He said, “You have the qualities of an angel.”
His comment kept me thinking. Do I really have angel-like qualities? What are they?
As I contemplated that definition of angels Mrs. Eddy gave us, I thought about how I try to treat my friends and neighbors. I have always tried to follow the Golden Rule, of doing unto others as I would have them do unto me. That part in the definition of angel about being the inspiration of God’s goodness is something that applies to all of God’s children, doesn’t it? Does that mean we’re angels? It does if it means we’re blessing others!
I realized in that moment that to me, being an angel of God meant following the Golden Rule and the two most important commandments: Love God with all your heart soul and mind and Love your neighbor as yourself (see Matt. 22). When we love God and our fellowman to the best of our ability, we can then provide support, love, and even blessing to those who need it. And that sounds like an angel to me.
581:4 God
God’s thoughts passing to man; spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect; the inspiration of goodness, purity, and immortality, counteracting all evil, sensuality, and mortality.
That’s really lovely! Thanks!
Very inspirational! I love thinking of myself and everyone I come into contact with as angels. That gives me a comforting feeling, you’re never alone!