Kissed by an angel

In case you haven’t heard the story of LaLa, you can read one of my previous posts-click here.  For now, let me introduce you to my angel…

Lala is a 72 year-old shuttle-bus driver at Mississippi State where I go to school.  His skin is the color of his dark brown eyes and serves as the perfect contrast for what I tell him is his “crown of splendor attained by a life of wisdom” (Proverbs 16:31)–in other words, his gray hair.

Lala’s real name is Charles Evans, and I could write for days about all the wonderful things that he has taught me, all the ways that he has inspired me, and all the influences that he has made on my life.  To say it simply, though, LaLa is one thing to me.  Lala is my angel.

The other day, I was walking into the Union, and guess who I saw?  Lala!  Oh my… My heart grew ten times when I saw him, and I exclaimed, “Lala!”  With a smile that stretched from ear to ear and showed his gold tooth off like a trophy, Lala drove away every winter cloud hanging overhead with that one smile.

We came together and hugged, and then Lala did something that he has never done before.  He lightly kissed me on the cheek.

Have you ever been kissed by an angel?  When kissed by an angel, you see, nothing is impossible anymore.  You realize that God really is as good as Jesus says.  When an angel kisses you, not only does he or she share with you his or her own love but  shares God’s love for you, as well.

Be someone else’s angel.  Be a person to show others love.  Be someone’s “Lala.”  Even then, your own angel will certainly be there waiting to share smiles, words of encouragement, and even sweet kisses on the cheek–waiting to share God’s love for you.

God quiets our anxious hearts

Butterflies eating at the inside of your stomach.  Your skin feels as though it is crawling.  To top it all of, your head seems to be embodied by smog; you can’t even think straight.  Have you ever felt these things?

These are the symptoms of the perfect combination of anxiety and fear taking control over my body.  This current state of mine can only mean one thing for me: I have a drive for success, yet I am bridled by my fear of failure.

For the past week and a half, I have been writing a book.  It has been amazing!  However, I’m honestly beginning to get the fear of “What if it’s not good?  What if it doesn’t even get published?  Would I have wasted a whole break and gotten sore fingers and forearms from typing for nothing?”

Although you may not be experiencing the same anxiety/fear combo, I am more than certain that you have found yourself in a similar place.  Whenever we find ourselves in this state of stress, anxiety, etc, we can rest in the promises found within the following verses:

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” -1 Corinthians 15:58

“Therefore, do not be anxious.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.” -Matthew 6:31,34

“Say to those with an anxious heart, ‘Be strong and do not fear. Behold your God will come.” -Isaiah 35:4

No matter what, remember that God is with you.  God delights in helping you accomplish tasks, especially when they further His kingdom.

Whenever we are feeling overwhelmed by fear and/or anxiety, God will come to catch those butterflies in our stomach and squash the bugs crawling on our skin.

He will come to quieten our anxious hearts!