Hebrews 1:13-14 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
God did not promise His children, those of us who have trusted Christ as Savior, that we would not go through difficult times; in fact, He promised quite the contrary (John 16:33). That goes for all of us, even for those we love most. Nonetheless, God also promises that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He also promises that He will intercede for us when we don't even know what to ask for, and that all things will work out for our good (Romans 8:26-28). He also tells us of "ministering spirits" whom He sends to attend to us, perhaps even taking tangible human form (Hebrews 1:14, 13:2). We will not face any trial alone that we are asked to face, nor will we not be given what we need to not only squeak through it and come out of it worn and beaten, but to move through it meaningfully and come out of it triumphantly.
My parents were married on April 15, 1961; an unusual day here in Southeastern Michigan; a high of 80 degrees F with snow that night. One might say that the unusual weather could have been a sign of the unusually good relationship that they would share for the next 60 years and one week (I probably wouldn't; however, it sounded kind of sentimental and romantic, and some people like reading that sort of thing :-) ). They had dated for roughly 3 years before their wedding day. Their marriage was one that most people would be envious of; however, like all things on this side of eternity eventually do, it came to an end when my father passed away on the morning of April 22, 2021, succumbing to pulmonary sarcoidosis, which he had battled with on and off for the prior 36 years.
Dad's suffering and death were a difficult time for all of us, but that time and ordeal were not without its blessings. Our all-powerful and loving God does not allow His children, His heirs, to suffer meaninglessly; we suffer with Him (Romans 8:17). He does not send us through our trials and tribulations alone; He not only walks with us through them, but He WALKS us through them (Psalm 23).
As one would expect, my mother had the biggest challenge in facing this ordeal. Her best friend, her life partner, the father of her children, her boyfriend of 63 years and husband of 60 had been allowed to suffer a prolonged illness and die. Nonetheless, the exact same loving, perfect, infinite, and all-powerful God who walked King David, Job, Daniel, Joseph, the Apostle Paul, and all of the other human heroes of the Bible through their difficult times, walked her through hers. He is just as interested in the lives of each of us, His children, as He was interested in the lives of all of the biblical heroes. Note, however, God is the real hero every time! Today, just as He was then.
I asked Mom to write about some experiences that she had shared with me in connection with my dad's death. I asked her to do so because I just didn't believe that these extraordinary experiences were meant to simply be kept to herself. They are just too meaningful, powerful, and wonderful not to be shared. I pray that you are blessed by God through what you read below.
Angels are Among Us… Welcome Them!
Writing about the events leading up to and following my husband, Jerry Reams’ death is not
something I wanted to do. However, my oldest son, Jerry, asked me to please put some of the things I experienced down on paper before “something happens” to me. Since I am 84, I guess I'd better hurry. :-)
It began the morning of our 60th wedding anniversary when Jerry was taken by ambulance to the U of M Emergency Room at about 11 a.m. Jerry and I had been waiting in one of the curtained-off areas, waiting for a room because they were admitting him to the Palliative Care floor and no bed was available. Jerry had refused any further treatment and knew his days were numbered. He was going there to die. It all seemed surreal.
About 7 pm a male nurse in blue scrubs opened the curtain and presented me with a vase of
fresh flowers and a take out dinner for each of us. We did not recognize him but I noted his
name tag and made a mental note of it. The only thing this person said was, “No woman should go without flowers on her anniversary.” I don’t remember either one of us saying anything because we were so surprised, and he suddenly left. I was left with flowers, dinner, and tears. Jerry had been concerned that he was ruining our anniversary because for the 59 anniversaries before, he had always made sure we celebrated. It really bothered him not to present me with a gift of some kind. I told him that he was the only gift I ever needed! He smiled and kissed me.
Just how this nurse had found out it was our 60th anniversary and why he felt compelled to bring the flowers and dinner, we never found out. I wrote the nurse’s name down and tucked it away in my purse, intending to send him a thank you note later. It was a week or so after Jerry passed away that I wrote the note to the nurse and sent it to the ER at U of M Hospital. A couple of weeks went by, and I received the note back with a message that no one by that name worked at the ER nor had ever worked at U of M Hospital. I believe in angels and have benefited from their presence many times in my life, but this one was very special. We both saw this human form, talk, speak, and perform an incredible act of kindness that could never be accounted for in earthly terms.
The second special angelic help I received was after a couple days in the hospital, it was
evident that Jerry only had a few days left. It was COVID time and visitor restrictions
were strict. I was the ONLY one allowed, no kids, no grandkids, no friends, only the pastor had permission. Jerry was begging to say goodbye to his family. I felt compelled to act, so I confronted the hall nurses and said my husband deserved to see his family. They told me absolutely no one could be admitted from the lobby, period. I asked for their superior. She came and was not nice at all. I began crying and raising my voice when a male nurse in blue scrubs appeared and asked what was wrong. I told him. He just turned and left. In a very SHORT time, the top head nurse came, listened to me, and told the other nurses that, “Yes, Mr. Reams can be allowed visitors from that moment forward.” She hugged me and everyone left. I soon got a code to give to people for the security check. Jerry was able to see everyone in perfect time slots for the rest of the time he had left.
No one on the floor knew this male nurse in blue scrubs. I believe he was the same angel that
visited us in the ER a few nights before. I talked to other family members on that floor, and they said they were not allowed any visitors… no exceptions. God had other ideas for Jerry. His final blessings, for sure, were the private goodbyes he had with his loved ones.
It was a day after Jerry died, and final arrangements had to be made. I remember walking
through the house crying. I was thinking that I couldn’t do this. Life without Jerry just wouldn’t be life. I fell on my knees on his side of the bed and tried to pray. I couldn’t speak the words that I wanted to speak, but I managed to pray, “Lord, you have to take control and help me do everything you want me to do or that is expected of me.” Then I put my head down and began to moan in a way I had never experienced. I firmly believe it was the Holy Spirit interceding for me. I felt the most wonderful presence of peace and amazing comfort flood over me. I could physically feel the sensation. I stood up and was able to do everything required at the time of a loved one's death. I believe that telling the Lord I could not do this on my own and that I needed Him was when I received such a miraculous comfort and strength I didn’t know I had.
Going through all the funeral arrangements can be exhausting. God sent just the right help each time I needed it. Jerry always told me that I didn’t look pretty when I cried, so I wanted to keep control of myself during the visitation and funeral service. If Jerry had been looking down at me, he would have been pleased. I got those misty eyes, but I kept my tears at home!
Church is something Jerry and I have done together since we were 17 and 20 years old. Stepping into our church for the first time after Jerry died was even harder than I expected. I started to try to “be busy” or be gone on Sunday mornings, or just watch church online. Gradually, I began to attend but didn’t want to socialize… just left ASAP. That was really foreign to me. It bothered me greatly.
Jerry and I had our Sunday morning routine, and I missed it. He always got dressed first and sat waiting for me in his easy chair in the living room. I always checked myself in the hall full-length mirror before turning the corner to meet him in the living room and receive his approval and compliment. It was a Sunday morning over a year after Jerry’s death that I decided I would attend church, so I got dressed in one of his favorite dresses and headed down the hallway. I checked myself and automatically turned into the living room, but Jerry wasn’t there to give me his approval… he always said something very sweet. It hit me hard that he wasn’t there and wasn’t ever going to be there again, so I turned in tears to go back to the bedroom. I was going to get undressed and stay home. I cried to the Lord, “I don’t like feeling like this. I don’t like church because I don’t get anything out of the message and only think about Jerry not sitting by me. I am not going.” It was like something grabbed hold of me and spoke these words, “Barbara, you are going to church.” I said back out loud, “But I can’t, my face is all red!” I was told, “You have to go.” So I reluctantly went, although I was a little late.
When I walked in the foyer, it was business as usual with the usual greeters. As I walked to the left to enter the sanctuary, the side we always sat on, a dark-haired man whom I didn’t recognize came through that door. He was dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and tie. He put his hands on my shoulder and said, “Barbara, you look so pretty today.” He turned and walked toward Fellowship Hall, and I went into the sanctuary very confused and puzzled. I couldn’t concentrate on the service because I wanted to find out who that man was. As soon as the service ended, I hurried out to the foyer and asked if anyone knew who that man in the dark suit was. No one there had seen him. I went to Fellowship Hall, and no one there had seen him either.
It was from that Sunday forward that God took away the terrible feelings of loss I that felt when
entering our church. I know that man was an angel sent to help me get past missing out on the blessings of church messages and fellowship.
I should note that Jerry would always wear a suit or sport coat to church. That door on the left was where he always wanted to enter. The man’s voice was just like Jerry’s, and the compliment he gave me was just like something Jerry would say. I had never had a man come up to me and put his hands on my shoulders like that at church. The memory of that morning has stayed with me just like it was yesterday and always will. I take great comfort in that special angelic memory. I also take great comfort in knowing, without a doubt, that God has sent angels to help me throughout my life, but this was definitely one of the most challenging assignments my angels faced. I am forever thankful for His angels. They are REAL!
by Barbara Reams - written February 16, 2025 at the request of Jerrold Reams
May we never lose sight of this promise: The true God is concerned and involved with every detail of our lives, every day of our lives.
Psalm 139
1O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
Please know that if you have not trusted Christ as Savior, you are not a child of God (Ephesians 2:2-3), and you are not an heir, nor do you possess the benefits that come with being an heir. However, this status can change immediately and permanently; it is completely up to you. It happens at the instant that you choose to take the Lord at His Word and trust Him as Savior.
Please share this with someone who may need some encouragement. Please access the free e-book with the button below as well. God bless.
JJR
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