You are spitting blood. That’s all you know. At this exact moment, you are trapped in a wrecked vehicle, and there is blood in your mouth.
You’re a college girl, on your way home for the weekend. It was raining. You lost control. Then a crash. Tumbling. Falling. Downward.
Now you can’t move your legs. You’re pinned by a steering wheel. Your pulse is weak. The thumping in your head is like a marching band.
You’re drifting in and out of consciousness.
Your memories are replaying. It’s funny what you remember when you’re dying. Not the things you’d expect. You remember things long forgotten.
Your little sister’s Christmas musical. A hand-painted Easter egg. Macaroni and cheese your mother used to cook.
The way you felt after your mother died.
You remember raising your sister. You remember changing her diapers. Cooking for your father.
And in your final moments, you think about your mother.
You didn’t know her past the fourth grade. You don’t remember much about her at this age. Only what you saw in photos.
You used to dress in her clothes when you were a little girl because you missed her. You’ve missed her for a whole lifetime.
But your father and your sister needed you to be strong. So you pretended. Still, you were only faking.
Now you are upside-down in your own vehicle. An airbag in your face. Red everywhere. You’re dying.
You’re scared. You use your voice.
“Mama,” you say.
You’re not sure who you’re saying it to. It’s coming from your gut somewhere. You say it again.
And you see her. She is a woman you know. She is familiar.
She’s here to save you. She works the door open. This is a strong person, you’re thinking. She cuts your seatbelt with a pocketknife. She frees you.
You cough up more red.
She drags you through tall weeds, over a steep ditch, across a highway. She places you into a car.
“It’s gonna be okay, baby,” she says. “Just hang on.”
You try to get a good look at her, but you can’t see.
“Mama,” you say. “I love you.”
“I know, baby,” she says.
You recognize her voice. This is the woman who gave birth to you. She touches your cheek. Her arms hold you. She loads you into a car.
You’re in a backseat. She is sitting with you. You hear an engine running wide-open. You’re falling asleep.
“Mama,” you say again. “Don’t leave me.”
“I’m here, sweetie,” she says. “I’m always here.”
The world goes black.
You wake in a hospital room. The white lights hurt your eyes. Your father is beside your bed, so is your sister. They’ve been crying so hard their eyes are puffy.
You’re trying to figure out where you are, and what has happened. It’s been a long night.
There’s a man in the room. They say he’s the one who saved you. He was on his way home last night when he found your car in an embankment.
He freed you from wreckage, loaded you into his backseat, and drove you to the ER.
He says he would’ve driven right past your wreck if it hadn’t been for a woman. The woman was standing on the highway shoulder, in the glow of his headlights, flagging him down.
“Help that girl,” was all the woman said.
The man says doesn’t know where the woman came from, or where she went. But that’s all right.
Because you do.
39 comments
Sandi in FL - March 3, 2018 6:37 am
Oh my, this gave me chills, but they’re the GOOD kind! I’m so glad this story has a happy ending. Guardian angels are all around us.
Ellen Shelley - March 3, 2018 7:13 am
Oh, the angels God sends to remind us He cares. Sometimes we feel we are so alone in our pain or need and He shows up. Thank you for this reminder.
Victoria - March 3, 2018 10:35 am
My eyes are leaking…
Pam - March 3, 2018 11:12 am
God is good – all the time…
What a wonderful story ❤️
Frieda Borntrager - March 3, 2018 11:13 am
Beautiful! Such clever writing. I love it!
Brian - March 3, 2018 11:20 am
Wow!
Howard Humphreys - March 3, 2018 12:02 pm
Wonderful story and beautiful writing..
Gary D - March 3, 2018 12:15 pm
Wow!
CaroG87 - March 3, 2018 12:19 pm
Massive goosebumps. And memories of my own mother’s love. Monday will be two years. I needed this today……
Jan - March 3, 2018 1:16 pm
Oh how precious is a mother’s love! Thank you!
Candace Bradford - March 3, 2018 1:45 pm
Wow!
Cathi - March 3, 2018 1:46 pm
Sean, I love your words! Thank you for sharing them with us.
Sarah - March 3, 2018 2:14 pm
I love these kind of stories. I believe.
Laura - March 3, 2018 2:27 pm
There is a song that I heard The Lamb Family sing once – it says “…There are angels among us….” I truly believe there are – it might be a living person God uses or it might be one directly from heaven, but they are here with us! Great story Sean. I know I have told you before, but I really love you and your stories that make me laugh, cry, remember, smile. Thank you!
Arlene - March 3, 2018 3:03 pm
Sometimes the things you share are so profoundly moving and written with such passion that any comment I could write cannot begin to capture the impact I experienced while reading your story. Once again, you found a way to reach the deepest part of me. I pray I will always be able to protect my children long after my body leaves this world. You have refilled my soul with hope. Thank you.
Sue Cronkite - March 3, 2018 3:06 pm
This one hit the heart button. My mother’s spirit is right here with me. So is God.
Rita J. Naftel - March 3, 2018 3:09 pm
OMG Sean!!!!!! Where did this come from?!! I teared up on this one!
Joe Sweeney - March 3, 2018 3:20 pm
Thanks for your posts Sean. Your friend Mark Stewart forwards them to me !
Kathy Daum - March 3, 2018 3:42 pm
Love never ends. That’s all I know.
Pat - March 3, 2018 3:50 pm
Words do not suffice…all I can say this thank you!
Kaye - March 3, 2018 5:08 pm
Angels among us!!!! God help us if we don’t believe!
Betty Vincent - March 3, 2018 5:20 pm
And some people don’t believe in angels????
Mary Calhoun - March 3, 2018 6:32 pm
Amazing how God’s angels work.
Barbara Schweck - March 3, 2018 7:17 pm
Love never ends!!
Steve Welch - March 3, 2018 8:33 pm
Damn Sean. You make even an old, jaded doubter believe. Well done.
Pamela McEachern - March 3, 2018 9:02 pm
Who else would you call to, Mom or Dad would always be the one no matter if they are gone or in the present. This one went as deep as it could for me. Your angel drawing is beautiful.
Peace and Love from Birmingham
Jack Darnell - March 3, 2018 9:14 pm
As always, I love your insight and reports on the Human part of this life. You do have a special talent of drawing a beautiful picture with words. THANKS
aucat76 - March 3, 2018 9:41 pm
All night, all day, angels watching over me. ❤️
Carey S Amberger - March 3, 2018 9:44 pm
Chills.
Mary Lee - March 3, 2018 11:51 pm
Okay I have chills. Tears and chills because I know my Mother would have been there for me too..Thank you.
Sherry - March 4, 2018 12:48 am
Gulp….
Sandra Smith - March 5, 2018 1:05 am
This doesn’t surprise me at all. I can’t tell you the times I’ve seen or felt Devine intervention, during my 35 yr Nursing Career, not to mention my own guardian Angel, coming from out of nowhere, to save me from a car jacking, or worse, as I saw patients that day. It’s REAL ! ^j^
Mark Downing - March 5, 2018 6:46 pm
Thank for making this old Marine tear up right in the middle of Bozos Grocery in Pascagoula. I’ve got to quit reading your stuff in public places. I’m sure people thought, “Why is this guy crying over a shrimp basket? “
Gretchen - March 6, 2018 6:45 pm
I’m 77. Lost my dad when I was 10. It still hurts.
Mary Ellen Hall - March 8, 2018 3:01 am
WOW, AMAZING!! Brought tears to my eyes!!
THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING, SEAN!!
Patricia - March 12, 2018 11:27 pm
With gratitude that angels are among us – and you are one of them for sharing your precious gift!
Loving thanks
Pat - May 14, 2018 10:36 am
Wow! This touched my heart so!!! Im preparing to go sit the day with my Mom in the Nursing home, Anesthesia, a heart attack, a fall that cracked her skull and left a small brain bleed all have plunged her into the throws of Dementia. Over the course of a few weeks she has endured all these things. Oh The anesthesia was to remove her other leg below the knee leaving her a double amputee now. This strong woman that I owe my life to, is in constant state of confusion. Constant sing of all her sentences because thats the only way she can put her words together to make sense. Hang in there Momma, I will be there in a few minutes to feed you your breakfast and we will talk in song for the entire day of your awakeness. But I will be there.
Debbie - May 14, 2018 2:54 pm
Tears! And belief…I truly believe that our angels are with us always. I lost my husband of 22 years at the age of 42. He was my high school sweetheart and the father of our only child. Throughout the years since, I’ve heard his voice just as clear as a bell, guiding me with just a word or two. My son says the same. And I believe, because he loved us and wouldn’t leave us. When I see red birds, I know it’s my Daddy paying a visit, and it’s always when I need his wisdom in my life. He always loved me unconditionally and had my best interest at heart. He knows when I need him, just as my husband does. God works in mysterious ways. 🙂 That I know for sure. Thank you so much for a beautiful reminder on this rainy Monday morning.
G. Mitchell - May 14, 2018 3:35 pm
Thank you God for all the angels who watch over our families and thank you Sean for sharing your heart.