An Angel For Mother's Day

The incident with the “angelic” neighbour and his generous gift of lava rocks brought back the memory of a real angel that had showed up in Mary’s past. It seemed so long ago, a life time past, but the memory was still fresh in Mary’s mind as if it was yesterday and this recent encounter awakened in Mary the warm feelings of God’s love and help that arrived on that distant, long-ago day.
Despite the wonder of that day it fell on a Mother’s Day which was always filled with grief for Mary. It didn’t help that the stores were filled with all the soapy cards that she never got, or well wishers at restaurants like the one in the story I am about to tell you who offered single roses and kind words to you. They assumed you were a mother even though you were not. What was worse was that church after church, no matter where Mary went had caused a greater grief. They were always sure to ask all the mother’s to stand up and prayers and accolades were lifted on their behalf. Mary’s deficiency and lack seemed to stand out even more on Mother’s Day. Worse was that it was scriptural that children were a blessing from God. So what did that say to all those women like her who never had children? Back then when Mary was still able to bear children (yet had none) it hurt a great deal to endure Mother’s Day and suffer the great emptiness that weighed on her heart. On top of all this every year she would hear her mother-in-law say in her broken English “Next year with baby”. That never happened.
Anyways this one particular Mother’s Day Mary and Peter had taken their mothers, Peter’s father, and his sister up to Swiss Chalet on Bloor Street in Toronto to celebrate. As usual, flowers and kind words were lavished on every mother there. The sweet soul who waited on their table gave Mary as well as her sister-in-law Valerie flowers too. Mary had smiled tenderly knowing God had looked down in His compassion and lavished Mary with this gift.
Mary looked across the table at her husband and family. They had finished eating and Peter was getting up. He was ready to go. He was not a man to waste time or hesitate. Everyone knew it was time to leave. Unfortunately, not everyone was as strong and quick as Peter. Both his mother and Mary’s mother were in their 70’s. Peter’s father was very feeble and his muscles seemed to have atrophied. He was not only shrinking but shrivelling up to nothing. He could not stand straight up anymore nor take any steps without help. His head bent forward and looked towards the ground as Peter and Mary grabbed him, beneath his arms and half carried him out the door of the Swiss Chalet. This was no small feat because even though he was a small man in stature he weighed over 180 pounds!
It was at this moment something happened to upset Valerie. Mary had no memory of what actually started the “incident” that changed the whole atmosphere. It could have been Valerie’s mother who could be quite bossy with her or some teasing comment from Peter. It was his inability to be sensitive that often led Peter into trouble with every member of his family.
Whatever it was that started the trouble Mary didn’t know. What you do need to know is that Valerie was one of Peter’s two siblings who were emotionally unstable. They could be riled up at the least little thing especially when they didn’t get their way. Their mother had spoiled them since childhood and rarely said “no” to them.
Valerie was very upset this particular day and began to scream and yell. It was something that happened a lot. She had been in and out of psychiatric hospitals and doctors’ offices which plied her with pills and kept her doped up. However, there were times like these when Peter’s sister would not take her medicine and would “act out”.
As Mary watched the events unfolding in the parking lot she knew her sister-in-law would have to be taken to emergency. Between all the commotion Peter and Mary decided to take Valerie to Mississauga Hospital. Peter took his father back into the restaurant and Mary’s mother stayed at the restaurant with him. Mary would drive Peter, his mother, and his sister to the hospital. Mary would return to the restaurant afterwards and drive her mother and father-in-law home. There was nothing else to be done because Valerie was uncontrollable. It took all of Peter’s strength to hold her down in the back of the van. She lay there screaming in demonic contortions. As Mary drove she could see the movement of the two of them as they fought for control.
Mary prayed all the way to the hospital and was glad and relieved when they made it there without further incident. By the end of the ride Valerie was more subdued but they were not taking any chances and admitted her.
Mary left the three of them at the hospital and journeyed back to the restaurant to pick up her mother and father-in-law. Mary never realized how heavy her father was or how inert he had become until this day when she was forced to take hold of him and walk him to the parked vehicle around the side of the restaurant. Peter took most of the weight in the past. Mary’s mother was trying to help Mary by lending a hand on the other side of her father-in-law. She was of little help. Mary was afraid she was going to lose him, afraid he would fall and then what?
It was at this point that Mary yelled out not knowing what else to do, “Jesus please help me”. Years later her own mother would relate what Mary had said in the retelling of this story. It had become a witness even to Mary’s mom. Mary had no sooner yelled her prayer when a tall black man came up alongside Mary and her father-in-law. “Can I help you?” he said and grabbed hold of Mary’s father-in-law underneath his arm. A great weight was lifted from Mary’s shoulder and heart at this moment.
“Oh yes!” responded Mary, “oh thank you so much”. Mary was quite surprised at the next words out of this man’s mouth. He, like the neighbour with the rocks, seemed to know something about Mary. However, Mary knew in the big city of Toronto there was no way this man could have known what he did. For the subsequent thing out of his mouth was, “That’s your car parked around the side of the building, shall we take him there?”
Mary was flabbergasted! “Why yes, she said, and was about to ask him how he knew that was her minivan that was parked there. However, he interrupted her question and began to share that he often had to assist people onto the railroad cars when he worked. He was retired now. He had been a railroad conductor!
Mary, herself, had lived near the railroad station both in Fort Erie and in Toronto as a child. Coincidentally, during both periods the railroad station had been a place of comfort and escape, a haven from trouble. Martha, Mary’s sister, recounted to Mary that during periods of abuse – attempted and real, the two of them often ran together to the railroad cars to hide. Mary’s memory of these occasions were vague and she only had a funny, sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach when she thought of the people involved at those times. Her sister, Martha, held the memories. Mary, out of self-preservation had buried all but some attached feelings.
So on this day when this man showed up to help Mary she felt he was an angel sent by God. Whether it was imagination or not Mary felt God chose a railroad conductor so Mary would feel safe with this stranger as she had felt safe so many ,many years ago when she ran to the security of the train yards.
As Mary thought back to that Mother’s Day so many years ago, she still sat in wonder. For you see once the man had helped Mary get her father-in-law into the van he disappeared! Mary had turned to say something after she fastened Peter’s father’s seat belt and the man was gone. She walked to the corner, looked up and down, and he had vanished!
But the warm, loving reassurance of a God who answers prayer did not. It would always stay with her even to this day. And did Mary believe in angels? You bet she did!