Angelus began as a series of short stories written to take my mind off myself when things got too difficult to handle the acute pain in my body. People always say that we write about what we are familiar with; for me that is pain and loss, recovery and the true love of a family. My life has never been an easy one, but those in my life have made my illness something I can and am willing to endure for the sake of the most wonderful family, and some truly amazing friends. But even beyond this is my love for my Lord who has taught me some very hard lessons, with love and gentleness, and taught me that tragedy and circumstance are not the end of the world. As long as He holds my hand, all things are possible. I hope you enjoy the stories in this collection of tales. Each one of them spoke to me in a way that made them touch something in my heart. Places in my heart, long thought forgotten, wrote the tales you have before you. They came to me as whole complete stories. Penance, however, was different. Penance was the very first story I ever wrote, scribbling away madly before I lost the train of thought. I was stuck in bed for nearly four years and then, confined to a wheelchair for about the same length of time. Pain was my constant companion, and without any medication for the pain that tore through my body, I ended up cutting myself, scarring myself permanently, or hacking off my hair in a misguided attempt to release the pain from my body. It was during this time in my life that Penance was written. Even now, it touches my heart in a way no other story I have written, ever has. Plague was set in a time of peace after the country had been at war so long. The fictionalized account an obvious result of too much death in the Welsh Countryside during a certain King's reign made up the basis for this tale. Especially with the historical documents telling of the amazing faith of the folk at that time. The Rocker tells of an old married couple who have loved each other through joy and pain, hardship and happiness and their Angelus have shared everything with them. Loving someone unto death and beyond, of never letting that love grow cold and wondering what is on the other side of life. It is more about my hubby and my life than I realized when I wrote it. Questions is about an angel Piety who had difficult questions that he didn't realize were making life hard for him, he needed answers. But could he really ask the Lord Overall? A Life for the Lord an old Pastor is getting ready to retire. He is sent the perfect junior Pastor, who is loved by the congregation. So why does he keep putting off retirement, and why does he feel this warning in his spirit? A Way Home is of a small child deprived of even the most basic things like love and affection until he makes a new friend who is much more than he seems. The boy grows crooked and his feelings are stunted. He makes a terrible decision, but things are not as they would seem. Faith Like a Child this story was about the good and the bad in good people. Even people who would ordinarily be reasonable harbor grudges that have unforeseen consequences. And during the time of Nero, a man who committed great wrong find his way to the light. The Cobbler is about the faithful service of a now very old man and an unusual messenger from the Lord who has cared for the old man all his life. The stories are very different from each other and tell the stories of how God's messengers are working behind the scenes keeping his people safe and helping us to love the unlovable. The stories are sad, and happy, poignant and at times, sentimental. I do pray they make your heart glad.
