Her Guardian Angel- Gabriel's Story

Gabriel's POV Another day in heaven. Actual heaven, where God reigns supreme and angels live. Where souls are judged and sent to wherever they are meant to go. I’m an angel, archangel to be exact. God's right hand, one of those he sends out to execute his will. In the early days I was quite busy. Always around to help guide those in need of 'direction ' or 're-direction' as the case usually was. The last 2000 years or so has been different though, no more Sodom and Gomorrah type redirecting. No, these days us angels are more guardians, trying to help those poor human souls navigate earth in hopes that they can find their peace with God and spend eternity in heaven. I've watched the same souls make the same mistakes so many times that I'm almost numb to it all. They say history repeats itself, and that's because humans can't help but repeat the same sins over and over again. Seven deadly sins.... but in reality there are so many more ways to deviate from God's plan. Even us angels aren't perfect. Lucifer was once one of us too. Fighting against the call of sin is never ending really. But for me, there has only ever been God's will, and I am darn good at making it be done. So good in fact that he has stopped sending me to earth. Something about ensuring that humans keep their freewill. Whatever that means. I guess I always had a hard time with free will. I tend to meddle with their lives too much. So instead, I am in charge of sending souls back to earth. Mostly old souls on their seemingly never-ending path, placing them where we think they may have a chance at happiness, a chance at meeting their soulmate and completing their life's journey. Yada Yada Yada..Yada... like I said before, it rarely happens. Isaac and I have been around since the beginning, and souls completing their journey just isn't happening these days. Because of that, we don't see a lot of new souls. "Hey Isaac," I greeted my guardian brother "how's the next batch of souls looking?" "We have a new arrival, she's a Feisty little spirit!" Isaac informed me. "OH really?" I yawned, not believing him. "No one surprises me these days." "Take a peak for yourself. I'm tempted to be her personal guardian angel. I think she has quite the destiny." Isaac’s eyes flashed black for a brief second as he pondered on this soul. Angels are not immune to devious thoughts. We once walked on earth with humans, enjoying all the pleasures God had granted his human children. The women especially. We are not blessed with soulmates, and occasionally our desires get the best of us. God created man and woman to fulfill each other's needs in marriage, but angels don't have that privilege. There was a time we could father children on earth, as most of us are male, but the privilege was abused and thus taken away. Now we can't partake in earthly pleasures. We can never get drunk. We can't get high. We can't cry. We can't have s*x. Always even tempered and collected. No real emotions to cloud our judgement. The perfection that is heaven sustains our every need.... most of the time. After Isaac’s confession, I became curious about this new spirit. After so many millennia, very little surprised us. As I came closer to the soul, her light began shinning brighter. I tried to look away, but it was almost as if there were magnets pulling us together. When I looked deep into her light, I saw the most vivid colors of a rainbow dancing inside. Brilliant sparks of violet highlighted every aspect of her spirit. I have always been drawn to violet. It's the color that always intrigued me the most. Both relaxing and exciting me when found in nature. It was rare to see such a bright soul, and I don't recall seeing sparks of violet in such a new soul. Isaac wasn't exaggerating when he said she must have a special destiny. "You know," Isaac chimed in, "it's your turn to go back to earth as a guardian. If you can follow the rules..." If I can follow the rules, what a joke. 'Don't interfere with freewill. Don't materialize in front of humans. Only talk to them in dreams. Only save them if it is God's will to be done.' I may or may not have broken the rules in the past.... humans can be so frustrating sometimes when you’re their guardian angels. "I can follow the rules." I said rolling my eyes. "You think this one is worth it?" I hadn’t even considered taking on another guardian roll for ages. "God put a special order for an experienced angel to guard her." Isaac winked. "So that leaves you, me, and Michael..." Just that thought had me rolling my eyes. "I'll take her!" God knows I couldn't let Michael have her. He may be the head angel, but he was no one’s favorite anymore. His last human didn’t last very long either. "Great!" Isaac boasted, I was almost worried that he tricked me. "Better hurry, she is set to need help really soon." I gave him a funny look before being whisked away to earth.... what would she need me for before she was even born? Earth Delivery Room The sounds of monitoring equipment were screaming. The mother was fading fast. Her baby girl had flipped during early labor and she was now breech. No doctors were available for the emergency c-section that she needed. She was fully dilated and the nurses were just trying to keep mom and baby alive until the doctor arrived. If they could even get there. There was an April blizzard that surprised the whole city and blocked most of the roads to the hospital. Power lines were down, and generators were the only thing keeping the single delivery room operational. It didn't look good. I couldn't lose my human on day one! I checked with God's plan, the baby was to live, but no mention of her mother. "Funk!" I said to myself. Angels weren't perfect, but we weren't allowed to curse either. "What did I get myself into?" I saw the father holding his wife trying help her handle all the pain. He was silently praying, begging God to save his girls, both of them. He would give anything to save them. Normally, a guardian angel is only on earth for their special person, and not everyone gets their own guardian. Under special circumstances, an angel can request exemptions to help others, but I didn't have time to ask permission. I am much better at asking for forgiveness anyways... I saw my girl's light flickering, fading in and out just like her mothers. She needed to flip, and fast. After whispering magical words of encouragement to the frazzled nurse, they decided to try one more time to flip the baby. I couldn't turn the baby on my own, but I could help the nurse do it. After the first attempt, her mother passed out. Her father was barely hanging by a thread when the nurse asked to try one more time. This time I did a little more. I wasn't a quitter, I was going to be the best Guardian angel around, there was no way I was going home after my first day! Cockiness was definitely one of my faults, but that is beside the point. She turned! I was more excited than I had been in a long time. I did it. Now they could deliver that baby girl. I couldn't wait to meet her! I was so busy congratulating myself that I almost didn't notice the alarms going off again. She was coming out, but the umbilical cord was around her neck. Tight. "Funk!" Isaac wasn't kidding that she needed me now. A quick word to the nurse and the crisis was averted. My little spark was born, quiet and blue, but alive. The nurses worked on her little body until she gave out a few little cries. I knew then that I couldn't let her mother die. She was going to need her mother, more than I really could have known. Now, angels aren't really magic. But God grants us certain skills to use in his absence. I should have asked permission, yes. But just this once I sent my borrowed power straight to her mother, healing her womb, and stabilizing her until a doctor could arrive. I also may have suddenly cleared the nearby roads that were preventing the doctor from getting to the hospital... it was necessary. Now to sit back and relax… waiting for my next moment. --- "Is she going to be ok?" I heard her father ask the doctor after everything had settled down. "I think so, John. Both Maggie and the baby seem to be doing just fine." The doctor reassured him. "I think this little one has a guardian angel, otherwise I really don't know how they both made it!" That she does, that she does. --- It was time to go back ‘upstairs’, I may have some explaining to do... but I couldn't leave just yet. Watching this little family of 3 had me mesmerized. I've seen plenty of human love stories in my time, but there was something special about this family. The love John showed Maggie was very powerful. I know soulmates exist, and I've seen it before. But this love seemed different. I guess when you almost lose your soulmate, it becomes that much more special to have that person with you. And I had no question about John and Maggie being soulmates. This was clear as day for this angel. Maybe that was part of what made my little girl so special? When great love creates a baby, they have that much more going for them. Everyone could see the love radiating out of that baby girl. That must be why she’s special. Now, if they could just name her, I can be on my way for now. I tried to stay out of the way, but that little baby was just way too cute. I mean, babies all look the same, but this one... I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She had soft, silvery hair that already swept into little curls. Dark blue eyes that seemed to stare straight at me. I swear she could see me, although, I triple checked that I wasn't visible right now. "What shall we name our little miracle?" John sweetly asked Maggie as he handed my baby to her mother. (Wow, I'm already claiming her as mine, this is not my first rodeo, what am I doing getting attached to a human soul?) "Talia. Talia Marie." She said. John just smiled and replied, "my sweet little Tali. I love it!" The new parents were beaming, and I might have been as well. Just like that, Talia stole my heart. --- "You're requested in the throne room." Michael smuggling informed me on my return 'upstairs'. I’m was almost sure I would be in trouble. "Ya, ya, I'll head right over..." I replied. "Did you really save the mother too?" Isaac asked. It wasn’t something I normally would have done, and it clearly surprised him. The look I gave him was all the explanation he needed. I just hoped the big guy approved of my life saving decision. I headed straight to my destination, although, it may have been at a slower than normal pace. I was always the one to do exactly God's will, never deviating, never questioning his perfect plan. I didn’t know what to expect from this summons. I walked into the golden chambers and immediately felt the power and love of the most awesome God. I never cease to be amazed in his presence. But it was quiet, too quiet. I decided I should start, " please forgive me....". "Why?" God asked me. "Please, I couldn't let her mother die like that. I won't disobey again..." I pleaded. "Yes you will, you aren't perfect." How can you truly apologize to the God who knows all? "Then, I promise to try my hardest to follow your will in the future..." I said while on my knees. "Gabriel, my child. Rise." He spoke so calmly that all my fears disappeared. "I asked 'why' you asked for my forgiveness, not why you saved Maggie." I wasn't sure what to say, so I just looked at him, with quiet eyes. "Are you telling me it was OK to save her? Even though the written plan said only Talia survived?" "You chose to save Maggie because you saw that John and Talia needed her. You risked punishment to save another soul." There was a short pause, "Gabriel, I'm proud of you. I picked you for this child, this is all part of my plan. You will grow and change just as much as Talia through this mission." I tried not to scoff at the all-knowing God. I mean, I'm thousands of years old, how can I have just as much to learn as a new born soul? I didn't have time to ponder much, as I heard a deep chuckle come from the throne. Was God laughing at me? "Of course not at you, just happy to watch this unfold." God smiled at me. "Remember the rules. You are Talia's guardian angel. Help her keep going, until her time comes to an end." "Yes, my Lord, let your will be done…" I left the throne room with a little hop in my step, as I knew I got to keep my little girl a little longer. --- God's POV "Isaac." "Yes, my Lord," Isaac was quick to respond. "Keep your eye on Gabriel, this task is bigger than he realizes. And he will be challenged ever day." "Yes ,my lord." He bowed his head and got back to work. This will definitely be interesting. My Gabriel deserves his happy ending, and I hope he can choose the right path. If he does, he will have a chance at true happiness.