(Picture…from Christmas card from Chris Frazier- Thank you Chris!)

Dear Reader:

In the Christmas classic…It’s a Wonderful Life… Jimmy Stewart’s youngest actress/daughter’s character speaks the famous words at the end of the movie: “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.” 

“Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings” (from ”It’s a Wonderful ..

I read where this famous line and idea became so popular toy stores and gift shops started making angels, bells, and other art forms with the well-liked quote on them.

Haven’t we all wanted, at one time or another, the magical ability to ring a bell and summon an angel to come look after us? I sure have. I always think there must be many different categories of angels…one for every possible problem that might arise.

When I came across this John O’Donohue poem…it just reaffirmed this suspicion for me…and it is so beautiful.

“A Blessing of Angels”

May the Angels in their beauty bless you.
May they turn toward you streams of blessing.

May the Angel of Awakening stir your heart
To come alive to the eternal within you,
To all the invitations that quietly surround you.

May the Angel of Healing turn your wounds
Into sources of refreshment.

May the Angel of the Imagination enable you
To stand on the true thresholds,
At ease with your ambivalence
And drawn in new direction
Through the glow of your contradictions.

May the Angel of Compassion open your eyes
To the unseen suffering around you.

May the Angel of Wildness disturb the places
Where your life is domesticated and safe,
Take you to the territories of true otherness

Where all that is awkward in you
Can fall into its own rhythm.

May the Angel of Eros introduce you
To the beauty of your senses
To celebrate your inheritance
As a temple of the holy spirit.

May the Angel of Justice disturb you
To take the side of the poor and the wronged.

May the Angel of Encouragement confirm you
In worth and self-respect,
That you may live with the dignity
That presides in your soul.

May the Angel of Death arrive only
When your life is complete
And you have brought every given gift
To the threshold where its infinity can shine.

May all the Angels be your sheltering
And joyful guardians.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Today is my middle child’s birthday…a benchmark year some might say…but as his mother I can attest that Walsh has made every year of his life a benchmark birthday. Walsh loves life and life loves Walsh. Twice we almost lost him but the world wanted him to stay…there just isn’t enough “Walshiness” to go around. He’s our Kringle Dingle.

I love you Walsh and Happy Birthday! This year’s present is still cooking…literally… and who knows who might arrive today to share her daddy’s birthday or wait until another day. But some little girl is about to fall in love with her daddy and some daddy is about to fall in love with his daughter…now that is a benchmark birthday. Happy birthday Walsh…Woo Woo!

So until tomorrow- a birthday prayer for you and Aunt Pap…”I prayed for you today, gave thanks for your life, wished you the best, asked the heavens to bless you with good health and happiness. I sent you good thoughts, surrounded you with hope and faith and love. I asked your guardian angels to protect you and keep you safe from harm and to blanket you with  contentment, peace, and prosperity. I prayed for you today.”

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Here is a picture of Walsh at one-year-old with Aunt Pap who also shares her birthday with Walsh (23rd) Happy birthday Pap!… and mother (“Me-Mommy”) with her Christmas birthday one day before on the 22nd. Whew…we all needed to have taken courses on family planning! (And Tommy ends up coming five years later on the 29th…double whew!) Don’t you love my “wings” hair-do? I look like I am getting ready to fly!

Joan…Thank you so much for my bird night light…its reflection on the wall is gorgeous! Now I won’t trip making those midnight runs to the fridge….I am slowly but surely becoming a bird lover in my own right. Merry Christmas!