Angels Watching Over Me

"For God commands His angels to guard you in all your ways." Psalm 91:11

Because it falls on a Sunday this year, we are not celebrating the memorial of the Guardian Angels, but I still think we can use some time today to think of these heavenly beings that God sends to earth to watch over us. I know most of the time I don't think about my Guardian Angel and I probably take its presence for granted, but I know that my angel often gets me out of sticky situations, protects me, reminds me to make right choices, and helps me to keep on the right path.

When I was a child I prayed to my Guardian Angel every night before bed. It always gave me comfort and helped me fall asleep if I was troubled or anxious. I don't pray the prayer much anymore, but preparing parents for their child's baptism, I exhort them to pray with their children every night and this is one of the prayers I encourage them to teach their children. Unfortunately many of them have never heard of it. 

Angel of God my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen

Another thing I remember from my childhood is the Guardian Angel song.  We sang it in school, we sang it in camp and in the late 60's I even remember singing it in church. This isn't exactly the way I learned the song, but I like the arrangement.

Perhaps it's time to think of our Guardian Angels a bit more often.  Yes, angels are all around us. They are not the cutesy beings that are depicted in little statuettes, yard statues, posters and greeting cards, but vigilant servants of God  who do His will to watch over humanity. They keep us safe, they comfort us as they once comforted Jesus on the night before He died, and when we breath our last breath they carry us into the arms of the Lord so that we too may join them in giving praise to God for all eternity.