Black Angel

Tim held his head in his hands as he cried so hard, he was convulsing. On the desk in front of him were containers of sleeping pills, which he intended to take.

It was 1 am and Tim's wife and two small daughters were sleeping elsewhere in the home as Tim gathered the strength to swallow those sleeping pills to end his life.

Tim was the chief financial officer of a supermarket chain and he knew when he arrived at work in the morning, he would be confronted by the auditors who had discovered that he had stolen over $100,000 from his employer.

The CEO would be there and so would the police, as he would be arrested, tried and face a lengthy prison sentence. He would likely be walked out in handcuffs, a disgrace to everyone who knew him.

Tim was a gambling addict and he had stolen the money to pay off his gambling debts hoping to win enough to pay back his employer, never to be discovered. But his bets failed as his debts grew.

As he calmed himself and reached for the first container of sleeping pills, a bright light suddenly lit the room. There before Tim was a black angel, her skin a dark chocolate, and her long black hair resting on a long flowing white robe.

"Don't do it Tim," she said as she approached him. "Until your gambling addiction, you had always been a wonderful and caring person to everyone who knew you and to many charitable recipients who never knew of your kindness to them. This world needs you and your family needs you.

"In the morning when you arrive at work, the auditors will find no missing funds for we of the angelic realm have already repaid them. And we ended your gambling addiction, although you will be required to attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings for the rest of your life."

"I don't know how to thank you," Tim said, as tears began to run down his cheeks.

"Tim, you can thank us by being the best husband and father you can possibly be and to continue your generosity to others.

"You can also thank us by reaching out to others who as you were just a few minutes ago, are confronted by hopelessness, and give them the reassurance they need."

"I will," he replied, "For as you've just shown me, no situation is hopeless."

"As long as there is God," she answered, "And angelic presence, no situation and no life can ever be hopeless."

Dick
This story was partly inspired by a real life story in "Presence of Angels," by Jim MacKimmie.