A Little Girl's Angel

I believe in “Guardian Angels”! Please do not judge me, but I have a couple of them in my life, and they are both dead. Of course, I have many people around me who I consider angels, but I am talking about dead ones who became my “Guardians” after they had died.

Before their souls leave us, there are indications, but we always miss the signs. I knew my live Guardians but had not recognized those signals naturally expressed throughout their lives. Looking back, I wish I had seen them.

My dad!

My dad had given many clear signs that he could be an angel. I remember kids adored him; I saw crying babies who stopped weeping once they saw him. Babies used to leave their mom’s laps to go and be near him; they recognized him! Babies are new to our world, the human world, so it would be easy for them to remember the angels. They remembered my dad.

My dad was a taciturn man, always smiling, and when he laughed, his voice sounded like Santa’s laugh. Fifteen years before he died, he looked like Santa. I do not believe in Santa, but I like the idea of what he represents. Santa is supposed to be very kind, generous, funny, loving, and quiet, just like my dad. And since “Santa” was born hundreds of years before my dad, it is easy to set Santa as an example to tell you about my dad.

My dad called me on the day when his soul left us. He asked me to say goodbye. I did not go because who knew that he knew? Only angels accept their fate on their deathbed, gracefully and happily. What a loss! I lived thinking of that day, years after his death, regretting that I had missed the only chance I had to say farewell.

But angels never leave you in your mess; they come back to say, “It is Okay!”

My dad became my Guardian Angel the moment his absence became intolerable. He whispers in my ears when I feel lonely; he shows me signs when I get confused. I have many stories about him being my guardian, but none of them supports my image as a sensible person to you because you know better.

My dad is always here for me, while you are not.

Dana Obeid