The morning after Christmas, I decided it was time to tell my guardian angel that I was ready to see him or her. As I was silently making this announcement, my three-year-old son shouted up the stairs at me that his socks were wet and he needed another pair. As usual, I had to attend to my children's needs first. The angel issue would have to wait.

I've always been fascinated with angels, and read every book that I could find about these spiritual beings. I just hoped my angel heard me that day and would show me a sign.

Later in the morning I needed a few groceries, so I went to the store, taking my eight-year-old daughter with me. I went to the grocery farther away than the one I usually patronize because it has a collection box for the homeless out front, and I had a bag of clothing to give. When I placed the clothes in the box, however, I had a strong feeling not to shop there.

Okay, I hold myself, I'll go to the pharmacy instead and pick up my son's vitamins. When I told my daughter about this feeling, she was not at all surprised - she was used to my "feelings". When we pulled into the pharmacy parking lot, a very distraught woman told me in one breath that her car was not starting, that she was so cold she could not feel her toes, and that no one at the automobile club was answering the phone. I certainly knew how she felt because my car had not started quite a few times in the past. Luckily, I knew what to do because I watched when my neighbor jump-started my car for me. I told her not to worry because I had jumper cables and would start her car.

When I connected the cables and turned on my ignition, her car just wouldn't turn on. A passing man stopped by us and offered to help. He just happened to have a screwdriver in his car. Boy, what a coincidience, I told myself. He stuck it into a round box near the engine and told me to try again. I didn't understand what he did, but her car finally started. We thanked the man and he left.

The woman asked if I could follow her to a gas station where she could leave her car to make sure nothing else was wrong with her battery. Of course, I told her. Then she asked me to drive her home. No problem, I said.

Meanwhile, my daughter happened to have brought along one of the books she had received for Christmas and was kept busy reading. Was her bringing the book just another coincidence? I began to wonder.

When we got to the woman's house, she thanked me and said, "God bless you." I had such a good feeling inside, knowing I had helped make that woman's day a little bit brighter. Leaving, I said a little prayer that her car would be all right and she would be safe.

That evening, my family and I went out to eat. As we were being seated near the exit door, an elderly man with a walker was slowly coming our way. As my husband and children sat down, I waited for the man and held the door for him. He looked at me and said, "Thank you so much," paused a moment and continued, "my angel."