The north wind rustles the branches of the old maple tree in Centurio
Town Square, shaking off the remaining colors on its twigs. The falling leaves
float like ballerinas as they drift gracefully before touching the ground.
The last day of autumn is in the air, coinciding with the deadline for
the Angel Story Writing Contest. Triple Hearts magazine, the town’s publication
for inspirational writings, has invited Centurio’s aspiring writers to this
exciting competition. Entries are pouring in from all corners of Centurio.
As the magazine’s chief editor digs into
the mounting submissions, something magical unfolds before his eyes. He is
mesmerized. A blue scroll carried by glittering butterflies lands softly on his
desk. It is sealed with a glowing white feather. Heaven has just dropped the
most compelling story that the quiet town of Centurio will never forget.
Inscribed in gold calligraphy, the heavenly
tale is about to unfold, by a winged writer whose words speak like thunder.
“My name is Anina. I am a soldier
from the Vanthai Legion which guards the Gates of Heaven. God sent me here on
earth to guide and protect a child from the evil forces of Dailim. I have
accomplished my divine mission and I feel compelled to share with you my full
account of Napilia. She is one of the chosen ones to fulfill God’s plans.”
It was on the second day of the second
month when Napilia was born. It was also the day I received the seal as her
designated guardian angel. God clearly instructed me on what I could do within
the power bestowed upon me as well as the limitations that bounded it. I would
be able to hear Napilia’s thoughts, feel her emotions, see her dreams, and
whisper my thoughts to her consciousness. But I was forbidden to touch or hold
her. I did not have the liberty to appear to her, and lastly I was under the
strict order to restrain my combat skills when attacked by the forces of
Dailim.
Napilia’s childhood would be marred with misfortunes and deprivations.
These two harsh elements were the very essence of her preparation in
discovering her inner strength and resourcefulness in finding her gifts from
God.
Misfortune struck before Napilia could even speak her first words. Her
good father died, leaving her in poverty with her mother. This was the first of
painful events that she would have to endure. With hardly anything to live by,
the two of them somehow managed to survive.
At the age of three, while Napilia was
sleeping, God’s long-time nemesis appeared before me and demanded that I give
up the guardianship of the chosen one. Like a mother swan protecting her young,
I spread out my wings and stood my ground. Immediately, he started swinging his
fiery staff and summoned the most evil warriors of Dailim. They came in waves
of six, totaling 18 demons spread out in all directions. Napilia and I were
quickly surrounded. Before they could make a move, I drew my sword and pointed
it to the sky. A lightning bolt hit its tip and the spark swiftly formed two
rainbow rings, encircling us from the attackers. By the time they charged, the
rings’ radiating lights turned into a tight ball, shutting down all entries
from the outside. The attackers were unrelenting, they did everything in their
power to break the walls, but its unyielding rays kept them at bay, sending
them reeling back to the darkness of Dailim.
When it was over, Napilia was still sound
asleep, so at peace and unaware of the grave danger she was in. I looked at her
with the same joy as her own mother would have felt if she was there and
witnessed it. I felt some sadness that I could not hold nor hug her.
Napilia demonstrated her keen resourcefulness at an early age. When she
was six, deprived of toys, she made her own doll out of clay and dressed it
with wild flowers that she picked in the meadow. Her creative ability made God
smile. It reminded Him of the day He created Adam. From above, God watched
Napilia play with her clay doll. He was pleased to watch her flap her arms like
a pair of wings as she chased the floating butterflies. Her innocent giggles
expressed her sweet love for nature.
Whenever Napilia was in her poignant mood, she would comfort herself by
singing. Her beautiful voice always amused me. I knew that she could sense her
gift. She sang like an angel. Music stirred up her imagination. While singing
she would look up at the sky and identify each cloud, shaped by the blowing
wind. There were times I whispered some hints to her consciousness when the
cloud formations became too complex to figure out.
One night, after playing her own game of connecting imaginary lines from
star to star in the night sky, I heard her thoughts. She wondered if her father
she hardly knew was up there with God. She wanted to see him. Her innocent
curiosity moved me tremendously. I wanted to pick her up and fly her to the
highest star in the galaxy. Without a doubt, I would have done it if only
Heaven had allowed me to do so.
When Napilia’s mother passed away, my heart bled for her. She was only
ten but her maturity was remarkable. The fear of uncertainty of what lies ahead
would have traumatized any little girl her age. She was indeed prepared by her
mother who taught her how to pray and to be strong in the face of pain and
loss.
In the years that followed, she was passed on to family relatives who
were equally poor. The aunts who took turns raising her also predeceased her,
adding more grief to her already battered life. But when she reached adulthood,
she met a wonderful man who made her feel happy again. He was a musician and an
incredibly talented guitar player. Their friendship blossomed to unconditional
love, uniting them as one in marriage. God blessed them with two adorable
children.
Napilia’s happiness was short lived. The Prince of Darkness made another
attempt to end Napilia’s life. He sent his demonic dragons to breathe fire on
her house, turning it into an inferno. Her husband tried in vain to save their
two children from the burning home. The three of them were consumed by the
blaze. It was during this horrifying night when I was overwhelmed by Napilia’s
pain. I wept like a human. My armor could
only save one life. I had no control of her family’s fate. I felt helpless as I
watched them perish.
The whole sight was disheartening but knowing what was coming next was
even more alarming. The Evil One would unleash the serpent of deception. He
would put the blame on God to poison Napilia’s mind and weaken her spirit.
Drowned in sorrow, Napilia grieved for months. It was during these
trying times when bitterness and resentment grew deeper, tempting her to detest
God. I intensified the vigilance and entered her thoughts. I whispered a verse
from the Holy Scripture.
With all the little strength left in her heart, Napilia picked up her
husband’s guitar. She gently touched it. Slowly, her fingers started to pluck
on the strings. The sound of each note echoed her husband’s voice, urging her
to stay alive and be strong. Between tears, a faint smile appeared in her eyes.
I could hear her soft voice harmonizing with the melody, and then it happened.
Her sorrow turned into a beautiful song that unlocked her gift of music. The
choir in Heaven were singing with her.
The bright aura around her was the divine
sign. It had manifested her readiness to receive her calling from God. I stood
aside and watched God take over. From that day forward, Napilia’s protection
and guidance would be straight from Him. Nothing could stop her. She was on her
way to evangelize the Good News. Through her angelic voice and the gift of
music, spiritual songs will touch the hearts of the world. Even the
non-believers will listen.
“And
so, before I return to my post at Heaven’s Gate, I will leave God’s message for
all of you. Open your hearts and listen. Through the Holy Scripture and God’s
earth angels like Napilia, His plans for humanity are revealed.”
Shaken by the spiritual encounter, the
chief editor falls back in his chair. He feels a gentle breeze sweep away the
glowing white feather from the blue scroll, leaving him in deep silent prayer.
At the town square, the miracle continues. The fallen leaves are dancing
with the wind, bouncing around the old maple tree, seemingly playing with the
giggling children. The wind dance is brief and spectacular, culminating into a
breathtaking trail of stars as it whirls upwards and vanishes into the sky.
