THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL

 ~ Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! ~ Hebrews 13:2

Today I entertained an angel.  Without question.   It was my It’s a Wonderful Life, Clarence moment, and then I blew it. I was given an amazing opportunity to do something that could be very meaningful to someone and with very little obligation on my part.   All I had to do was walk back into a store but instead I sat in my car, waited for several minutes, and then with hesitation drove slowly away.

So it all happened like this. 

Talbots was running their big end of year sale with everything in the store discounted at 40-50% off so I made sure I inked it onto my to-do list along with a myriad of other errands for the day.  After having our fresh-cut Christmas trees crash to the floor three years in a row, the hubs and I decided to purchase a small, fake tree.  To get the holiday season underway, my first priority was to make sure I purchased a fake tree along with a holiday endearing, pine scented candle. With Santa list in hand, I had all day to shop until I drop.  Jumping into my 4-wheel drive sleigh, I headed east on Rt. 22 towards Target, Walmart, Pier One, Home Depot, Michaels, and Lowes. Surely, one of these stores had an acceptable fake tree. As I drove down the highway, I decided I should stop at Talbots first as I inevitably end up with dirt on myself while rooting around in Home Depot and Lowes and didn’t want to try on clothing with messy hands. It was at Talbots that I met my angel, Cheryl-- a well- dressed, beautifully coiffed women that I guessed to be in her mid-60’s with a warm and friendly smile.

I was standing just outside the dressing room in front of the tri-mirror deciding on the fit of a red, lace top for a party when Cheryl  walked out of her room and gushed how beautiful the shirt looked on me.  She emphasized that the red was a blue-red – not orange red-- and just the right color for me. The size, she thought was perfect and no, I shouldn’t try the next size up. As we conversed, I realized that she loved the top so much I encouraged her to try one on herself.  So, she did. But she also wanted me to know about her difficulties with shirts fitting improperly due to her broad shoulders. Agreeing, I told her I understood somewhat as I had the reverse issue of small shoulders. She laughed and said we both liked the same style of clothing and had “so much in common” we should be friends!

As I perused the rest of the store, I made several selections and again noticed  Cheryl and I chose the same item as we admired each other’s black, down vest with fur collar. We laughed and acknowledged each other’s good taste, made more small talk and both went to the check out register.  As the clerk slowly rang up my purchases, Cheryl and I chatted away and then a light bulb went on in both my and the clerk's head. I could see her eaves-dropping on our conversation while leisurely wrapping my clothing in the tissue paper as they always do.  It was as though she was ringing things up extra slow so as to hear the dialogue taking place.  

For the past half hour Cheryl, the angel was trying to befriend me and regretfully, I was giving her nothing more than casual chit chat.  Clearly my mind was on my list and the tasks at hand and wasn't intentionally being rude. But in the check out line, my thoughts began to shift.  As we stood there,  Cheryl began talking about grandchildren and I learned she had none. She went on to say that she had two sons. One was married for 20 years and didn’t want children and the other was living in a relationship, but wanted neither marriage nor children. And then the words just tumbled out of her mouth…. and her husband was recently gone, dying of colon cancer at 60, and she was alone. And her father in law died six months after him and now recently her mother in law passed away…. all the parents were gone now.....  gosh she sure wished she had grandchildren…. and oh, how her blood pressure is so high anymore. 

Before I could say anything in response, the clerk finished packing my bags, handed me my receipt to sign and without skipping a beat, Cheryl, the angel turned to the clerk and told her what a wonderful and nice person I was and how we had so much clothing style in common that she thought she and I should have lunch together. And then she turned to me and said, “let’s have lunch! It would be such fun to talk.” And she just smiled at me.

My mind was racing around and my heart was extremely confused. In five minutes at the checkout, I learned Cheryl, the angel’s entire life story, that her loneliness was extremely profound and all she wanted was for me to eat lunch with her and talk. Or did she? In those fleeting moments I was unsure of what to do and smiled and told her I enjoyed meeting her, she would remain in my thoughts and wished her a very happy Christmas, waved and walked out the door. As I walked to my car, I couldn’t get her out of my mind, my heart was so heavy as she obviously touched it.

During the Christmas season, I read or watch all these wonderful tear jerk stories of the holiday spirit but this was not ending like the blissful ones on Hallmark. Instead,  I sat in my car and vacillated whether I should go back into the store and take my angel to lunch. Normally, I am a very gregarious and vivacious person who is not the least bit shy in social situations, but instead I sat there all circumspect and wondered if I would be foolish going to lunch with a  complete stranger. I reasoned with myself that I had my Santa list… and a fake tree to buy… and … and.  Well, I decided to wait for her to come out and give her my phone number for another day. And I waited a full 5 minutes, but she never came out of the store so I slowly drove away.

That day I missed an opportunity that I will regret for a very long time.  My heart ached just thinking how a small lunch may have cheered a lovely, yet  very lonely women. I believe in all my heart that Cheryl, the angel crossed my path for a purpose and instead of showing her love and compassion, I failed miserably.  It won’t be the first nor the last time I will miss the mark, but I needed this reminder then and still do today.  For many people, the holidays are a time of sadness and loneliness and this was a very good reminder to pay attention, reach out and look for those who need love and care.  

My Christmas wish for this year is once again, for God to give me a do-over. It would indeed be a Christmas miracle to run into Cheryl, my angel and I sincerely hope my angel crosses my path again!  But if not, I am thankful that she reminded me to keep my eyes and heart open to see those who need me or just a little of my time, love and caring.

And to you Cheryl, my angel if you are out there, I hope I get another opportunity to earn my wings someday!