That’s when she hears something. Footsteps in the brush. A man crawls into her vehicle through the shattered windshield. He pulls her free.

It’s late night. She’s driving an empty highway. The radio is playing something lively. She’s heading toward South Carolina. A new life. A new job. A new town.

She’s got a lot going for her. She’s fresh out of college, smart, ambitious, she comes from a good family, she’s got all the support she can stand.

She’s giddy about her new job. She starts on Monday. She’ll get her own office, good benefits, the whole enchilada. She’s wondering where life is going to take her next, and she’s pure excitement.

She doesn’t see the deer jump in front of her. All she hears is the sound of crunching.

It’s over fast. She smashes into a guardrail, her vehicle tumbles a few times. There is blood in her vision, but she’s not hurt—it’s a miracle.

Her car is wrecked, she’s stuck in a ditch, but she’s alive with no broken bones. She tries to crawl out of the vehicle, but the door is jammed.

That’s when she hears something. Footsteps in the brush. A man crawls into her vehicle through the shattered windshield. He pulls her free.

Her new friend says, “You’re gonna be alright.”

It’s dark. They hike toward the highway to flag a car down. When she gets to the road, the man is gone.

Here’s another:

Bill has cancer. It started as a skin problem on his back. It grew fast. It spread. Doctors operate and cut it out.

After the invasive procedure, he lies on a hospital bed, subjected to lethal doses of daytime television.

Bill is sad. He has no wife, no children, no immediate family to visit him. He’s never felt as alone as he does today.

Then.

He sees a child, standing by the open door. He doesn’t know how the boy got in. Only friends and family are allowed to visit—Bill has neither.

The kid must be about ten or eleven. He is by himself, dark skinned, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans.

“Who’re you?” Bill says.

The child answers, “I’m here for you, Bill.”

Bill falls asleep. When he wakes, the kid is gone. That was ten years ago. Bill is still cancer free.

One more:

His wife is pregnant with a child. There are complications. She has the baby prematurely. The child has a weak heart. He lasts two years.

The death is a shock. He and his wife mourn so hard, they aren’t sure they’ll ever recover. And they don’t—at least not together. They divorce. He moves out, she gets the house.

One day, he is at a jobsite, running electrical wire in a pine-framed house. There is an elderly man who shows up. The man looks homeless—long beard, layered clothes, gaunty.

They start talking. The old man is friendly.

In the middle of their conversation, the old man says, “I think you oughta go back to your wife.”

The young man just stares at him. “How’d you know I was married?”

“Go to her. Go now.”

The man wanders away.

After work, he calls his wife. She tells him that her sister has just died this morning. She is a wreck.

He hops a flight to be with her. He stays with her through the worst. And he stays after that, too.

After fourteen years they’ve made a beautiful life for themselves. They are the proud parents of twin girls.

Listen, I don’t know what you’re facing today. Maybe it’s something bad. Maybe it’s not a big deal. Maybe, it’s a late car insurance payment. Maybe it’s something fatal. Maybe it’s something worse.

Well, I don’t have any knowledge on how the universe works. I don’t know anything about the nature of life, and you have no reason to care about a word I say. But if you’ve read this far, there’s something I want to tell you:

You’re going to be okay. And you’re not alone.

That’s not an opinion.

56 comments

  1. Fran - June 4, 2018 5:46 am

    Promise?

    Reply
  2. Jeannie Durley - June 4, 2018 5:53 am

    Getting choked up every night ! Love !!

    Reply
  3. Martha Taylor - June 4, 2018 5:57 am

    Your columns bring me to tears. Your columns renew my spirit. Never stop what you are doing. You are reaching into hearts and minds and souls of people you will never meet. What you do is a gift far beyond your imagination.

    Reply
  4. ccgoesdutch - June 4, 2018 6:03 am

    thanks Sean, at this moment I needed that story.

    Reply
  5. Glenda H - June 4, 2018 9:22 am

    Oh Sean, I love you more than oyster casserole!

    Reply
  6. Linda - June 4, 2018 9:27 am

    Needed that very much today, Sean.
    Thank you ….

    Reply
  7. Steven P Bailey - June 4, 2018 9:34 am

    Beautiful and timely.

    Reply
  8. Ronnie - June 4, 2018 10:13 am

    Thanks!

    Reply
  9. Anna Ehrhardt - June 4, 2018 10:37 am

    Thank you. I don’t know why I read your column first this morning but I did……….and I am glad. I feel better.

    Reply
  10. D. Green - June 4, 2018 10:38 am

    Can’t even say how much I needed this RIGHT NOW. Going to save to read again . . . and again. Thank you.

    Reply
  11. Bob Cantrell - June 4, 2018 11:02 am

    Thanks Sean
    Hillbilly Bob

    Reply
  12. Sue - June 4, 2018 11:41 am

    God sends angels to us when we need them. I firmly believe this. We are never alone.

    Reply
  13. David Styers - June 4, 2018 11:48 am

    You should have been writing all your life

    Reply
  14. Ellen Walters - June 4, 2018 11:51 am

    Thanks Sean! I so needed to hear that this morning!

    Reply
  15. Lylabeth King - June 4, 2018 11:52 am

    Sean, it’s as if you know me and know what I need to read each morning. God reaches me through your writings. Thank you.

    Reply
  16. Trina V. - June 4, 2018 12:10 pm

    How do you do it? How do you know exactly what I need to hear? It is almost as if you and I are talking at the kitchen table over a cup of coffee.

    Reply
  17. elainenkarrh - June 4, 2018 12:23 pm

    You slay me,every time..

    Reply
  18. Jackye Thompson - June 4, 2018 12:39 pm

    Thank you for your words today.i needed the boost today.was
    So timely .God Bless you.Jackye

    Reply
  19. Robert Arban - June 4, 2018 1:39 pm

    You’re right Sean, we’re never alone, we have a heavenly father who loves us unconditionally, all we have to do is believe

    Reply
  20. Charlu Kent - June 4, 2018 1:42 pm

    Yup ??❤️?

    Reply
  21. Pattie (pattiemac1977) - June 4, 2018 1:55 pm

    Awesome read and profound thoughts! Thank you ??

    Reply
  22. Mary - June 4, 2018 2:10 pm

    I needed to hear that.

    Reply
  23. Connie Havard Ryland - June 4, 2018 2:23 pm

    Everybody needs to hear that sometimes. Thank you for the reminder. Love and hugs.

    Reply
  24. Val Jensen - June 4, 2018 2:33 pm

    Thank you so much for writing this message…..I especially needed to read it today and it has helped me to feel not so alone in what I am struggling with. I read your writings everyday and get such a feeling of peace and calm. Keep on sending your messages as I’m sure you have helped many more people than you realize.

    Reply
  25. Connie Jones - June 4, 2018 2:36 pm

    Sean, you always make me feel good even on a Monday. Thanks…

    Reply
  26. GEORGE THOMAS JONES - June 4, 2018 2:57 pm

    SEAN–I BELIEVE IN GUARDIAN ANGELS–I BELIEVE YOU DO, TOO

    Reply
  27. Jack Quanstrum - June 4, 2018 3:06 pm

    Thank you for the uplifting stories!

    Reply
  28. Kay Keel - June 4, 2018 3:22 pm

    I needed to read this today. Thank you!

    Reply
  29. Jack Darnell - June 4, 2018 3:42 pm

    Me and Kay keel above!

    Reply
  30. Janice Takashima - June 4, 2018 3:43 pm

    Today I am grateful for your reminding me that there are good people in the South, quietly doing good things for people who might never realize it. As they do it for the least of these…

    Thank you, Sean.

    Reply
  31. Edna B. - June 4, 2018 3:43 pm

    I love these stories. I believe in guardian angels. They’ve been here for me more than once. Thanks for believing too. You have a blessed day. Hugs, Edna B.

    Reply
  32. Laurence - June 4, 2018 3:46 pm

    Sean, I think you are working to hard. No one will blame you for taking an occasional day off

    Reply
  33. Lynn - June 4, 2018 3:51 pm

    With tears in my eyes…thank you… I needed this

    Reply
  34. Linda Chapman - June 4, 2018 3:54 pm

    You, my Dear Sean, are an angel……

    Reply
  35. Barbara Jean Morris - June 4, 2018 3:56 pm

    I just love reading these short stories. some are entertaining others are enlightening… anyway, thank you for them.

    Reply
  36. Rachel Firestone - June 4, 2018 4:18 pm

    God’s timing is always perfect

    Reply
  37. Barbara Schweck - June 4, 2018 4:51 pm

    There ARE always Angels among us. Thank you Lord, for Sean.

    Reply
  38. lfshurden - June 4, 2018 4:55 pm

    Just what I needed today. Thanks.

    Reply
  39. Peter Heyer - June 4, 2018 5:09 pm

    AMEN! Keep it up!

    Reply
  40. Jean Brown - June 4, 2018 7:03 pm

    Thank you, though it doesn’t feel like it now. Maybe someday.

    Reply
  41. Cindy S - June 4, 2018 8:22 pm

    Oh, Sean how I needed this today! You’re an angel of the Lord that just gave me a much needed tap on the shoulder. I just found out I need a kidney biopsy in 2 days. Bless you for your kind words and reminder that God is always with us. Blessings.

    Reply
  42. Fraulein - June 4, 2018 8:23 pm

    Thank you. I am a active and believing Christian but today I needed to read this. God is here and miracles still happen

    Reply
  43. Frances Jones - June 4, 2018 8:49 pm

    Thanks. I needed that.

    Reply
  44. Pamela McEachern - June 4, 2018 9:20 pm

    I too believe Angels surround us in our darkest hours and I believe this because it has happened for me. Thank you for the beauty and sincere messages you give us all.

    Peace and Love from Birmingham

    Reply
  45. Margaret - June 5, 2018 12:53 am

    I needed that. Been a little down. I love your stories. You definitely have a gift. Thanks you.

    Reply
  46. Mary Ellen Hall - June 5, 2018 1:40 am

    THANK YOU FOR THIS SEAN!!!
    I DEFINITELY NEED THIS TODAY!!!
    GOD BLESS YOU, MY FRIEND!!

    Reply
  47. Linda Till - June 5, 2018 3:01 am

    Thank you, Sean I am going to have surgery soon and I have been so scared that it might have a bad outcome and I’ll be worse off than now. I needed to hear what you said. You are so right!!

    Reply
  48. Martha Dickson - June 5, 2018 3:03 am

    My youngest daughter passed away 2/12/2018. She was my best friend, we talked everyday at least twice and sometimes more. I miss her so much and sometimes it seems like I cannot go on. Reading this touch me. I needed that at this time. Thank you so much.

    Reply
  49. Suzanne - June 5, 2018 4:00 am

    Thank you! ?

    Reply
  50. Linda Kendrick - June 5, 2018 7:32 am

    Thank you so much for this message. It is exactly what I needed to hear

    Reply
  51. Bobbie - June 5, 2018 1:31 pm

    Thank you, Sean!

    Reply
  52. Jody - June 5, 2018 8:57 pm

    Thanks for the reassurance. God is good!

    Reply
  53. Linda Hempfleng - June 5, 2018 9:00 pm

    Thank you, Sean!!

    Reply
  54. Donna Johns - June 7, 2018 11:29 am

    ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

    Reply
  55. Lisa Snuggs - June 7, 2018 12:22 pm

    I’m catching up on my daily dose of Sean of the South. I just read “Friends” from June 4 that ends with “You’ll be Okay.” I’m able to read this morning because I’m in the waiting room at Levine Cancer Center in Charlotte, NC. When my brother comes out from his PET scan, I’m going to read this to him. When we see his oncologists later today, I hope they, too, will say, “You’ll be Okay.” Prayers appreciated.

    Reply
  56. Patricia Yard - August 2, 2018 1:42 pm

    Perfectly timed as usual! After surviving “The Widow Maker” on the 11th, my Mom leaving with the Angels on the 14th just an hour or so after I got home from the hospital, this could not have come at a better time! The Cardiologist shook my hand yesterday and congratulated me. He point blank told me that even my EKG held no visible clues to my ordeal from the 11th. He placed my stent on the 12th, in the LAD Artery that was 100% Occluded. He also told me that The Big Guy upstairs had his hand on me, that he could think of no other reason for my survival. In the doctors words, “You, sweet lady are a walking medical Miracle”. I have given some thought to changing my Birthdate to the 12th, instead of the 20th. I wasn’t alone those 3 days, nor did I feel alone during the procedure. There is one person who stayed by my right shoulder the whole time, much older, white hair and beard. He wasn’t introduced to me like the other folks were, he wasn’t the guy that was in charge of my IV meds, and after a few minutes of final pictures, I remember him sitting there for a while, while the crew talked with each other about my case, the one they’ve NEVER witnessed before. After I was moved back to my bed, and readied to return to ICU, I looked, and he was gone. On the 14th, I was brought home that afternoon, I was so excited to go by the Manor and see my Mom the next morning. She had been there battling Dementia. I wanted to share my good news with her. About an hour and half after me getting home, the Angels came to take her from this life. I attended her viewing and service in a wheelchair. I didn’t intend for this comment to be so long, but I know I wasn’t alone. And there have been many instances in the past that I also had much needed company. Thank you for touching my still healing heart this morning!

    Reply

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