Angels in our Midst

I believe that God loves us and that he send angels to help us make our way in this world. Not necessarily the loveable, wing-seeking Clarence of It’s A Wonderful Life or the dashing Cary Grant as Dudley in The Bishop’s Wife, but in other forms. Sometimes our angels are people known to us who step in to  help or encourage or guide or simply to love us through our current difficulties. And sometimes God sends perfect strangers to minister to our needs or even save our lives. I am thankful I got to meet one of those angels on Earth on Thursday.

My friend and her mother were out to lunch with me on Thursday  just catching up on last weekend’s activities and enjoying one another’s company.  The restaurant wasn’t too busy, but the room we were in was full. We got a table with a view and we’re enjoying it and the good food before us.

Then my friend began coughing and holding the napkin to her mouth. She kept coughing. I asked if something went down the wrong pipe. She shook her head, took a sip of her soda which bubbled back out, stood up and motioned to her throat. (We later learned carbonation and choking aren’t a good combination.) I stood up and looked around a room that had almost emptied by now. I started to do the Heimlich Maneuver, which I had seen done but never done myself.  It wasn’t working. She was still choking.

Then a young woman from the one other table in the room was at my side. She said she was a military trained EMT and she could help. She worked on my friend, even lifting her off the floor at one point,  until finally the piece of chicken that was lodged in her throat came out. Then this angel took my friend into the restroom to clean her up and make sure all was okay while her mother and I tried to absorb what had just happened. My friend kept talking afterwards about how kind and gentle the young woman had been.

I firmly believe God put that angel at the table next to us to save my friend’s life on Thursday. Her quick and calm action was exactly what we needed. Her gentle kindness after it was over simply confirms who sent her. I am remembering her in my prayers and thanking God for sending her. Her actions saved my friend’s life.  I know my friend and her mother are including her in their prayers, too.