Susan Duke - Earth Angels: Stories of Heavenly Encouragement through Earthly Vessels

Stories of Heavenly encouragement Through Earthly Vessels

Susan Duke

Our purpose at Howard Publishing is to:

• Increase faith in the hearts or growing Christians

  Inspire holiness in the lives of believers

• Instill hope in the hearts of struggling people everywhere

Because Hes coming again!

Earth Angels 2002 by Susan Duke

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America

Published by Howard Publishing Co., Inc.
3117 North 7th Street, West Monroe, Louisiana 71291-2227
www.SimonandSchuster.com

05 06 07 08 09 10 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

Edited by Michele Buckingham

Interior design by Stephanie Denney

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Duke, Susan.

Earth angels : stories of heavenly encouragement through earthly vessels / Susan Duke.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p.).

ISBN: 1-58229-216-7 (cloth); 1-58229-520-4 (pbk)
eISBN 978-1-451-60558-7

1. Christian life. I. Title.

BV4515.3 .D85 2002

242dc21

2001039997

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations within critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations not otherwise marked are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Other Scriptures are quoted from The Holy Bible, Authorized King James Version (KJV), 1961 by The National Publishing Co.

DEDICATION

I lovingly dedicate this book to the earth angels in my life.

You have graced my heart with more love than I could ever be worthy of.

To Harvey, my husband and soul mate. Thank you for loving me unconditionally, believing in me, and giving me the freedom to follow my dreams. Im certain my real guardian angel applauds you for all the times youve picked up my drooping, earthly wings and straightened my slightly crooked halo. Your faith in my writing keeps me soaring with enthusiasm and gives me the courage to write from my heart. You are the wind beneath my wings.

To Kelly, my beloved daughter and friend. Your strength, encouragement, and love mean everything to me. You continually fill my heart with sunshine and flowers. I could not have been blessed with a more precious daughter. You will always be my baby girl.

To Thomas, my beloved son and borrowed angel for eighteen years. You are the shining star of my heart. Even now from your heavenly home, you are teaching me that love is the invisible bridge between heaven and earth. I can hardly wait to see you again.

To Mama, who gave me life and the invaluable gifts of laughter and determination. Your example of optimism and joy has inspired me to become an earth angel of encouragement to others. No one can take your place in my heart.

To Kara Noah, Tyler, Rachel, Angela, Anthony, Todd, Tara Aaron, Ryan, Dorinda, Dana, Brenda, and Linda. Thank you for every hug, every giggle, and every precious affirmation of love you have deposited deep within my heart. You are my treasures.

To my sisters and Brothers, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. The bond and memories we share are forever. Your love and the bountiful blessings of family have helped my heart find its voice.

To my earth-angel friends. You know who you are. Without you, many of the stories in this book would not have been written. You are my inspirationthe earthly vessels whove enriched and changed my life. If I fly on a wing and a prayer, its because youve lent me your wings and whispered the prayers. God knew my life would not be complete without you.

Most of all, to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, from whom all blessings flow. You are my source for everythingmy dream maker and my vision keeper. You are the one who put heavens pen in my hand. In You alone do I live and move and have my being. Thank You for loving me just as I am and allowing me every now thentattered wings and allto be an earth angel to some of Your kids. I give You all the glory.

They are all around us, scattered here and there, seemingly always at the right place at the right time as if by divine appointment. They often come disguised as store clerks, postal workers, factory employees, teachers, nurses, truck drivers, housewives, or even children. On certain occasions you may have entertained one of them, completely unaware of their deeds of compassion and kindness. They would never boast about their acts of love. They just quietly go about doing good whenever the opportunity presents itself.

They are angelsearth angels. They are earthly vessels overflowing with heavenly encouragement. They are ordinary people distributing love and compassion to their neighbors. They are helpers, givers, and supporters.

In my lifetime I have been privileged to meet a few of these earth angels. But there is one in particular I have come to know best. She is my friend. Humility is her trademark. She never seeks recognition or reward for her frequent acts of kindness. She doesnt brag about how she has helped or encouraged someone in need. She never wants any glory for being the servant she is. She possesses a God-given heart of love for the hurting. And from that heart springs compassionfor compassion is the constant companion of love.

During the years I have known her, I have often seen her wash many a troubled soul in a warm shower of Gods healing love. I have watched her impart a sense of renewed hope, faith, and love as only one of Gods true earth angels can.

If you have guessed who this special earth angel is and who has penned these words of praise, you might think Ive written from a biased point of view. Perhapsjust a little. But if you knew this earth angel as I do, you would know I havent missed the mark.

Who is she? She is my helpmate, my companion. She is also the author of this book. She is my own very special earth angel. She is my wife.

To Susan, with my heartfelt expression of love.

Your husband,

Harvey

P.S. Susan never knew until Earth Angels was published that these words would be included in her book. Thanks to Philis Boultinghouse, Susans editor at Howard Publishing, for allowing me to express them.

To John Howard, Denny Boultinghouse, Gary Myers, and all of the wonderful staff at Howard Publishing whose trust, dedication, and expertise made this project possible.

A special heartfelt thanks to Philis Boultinghouse, my esteemed and gracious editor, who enthusiastically affirmed the vision for Earth Angels and made me believe it could really fly.

To all who encouraged me to write my stories, I cant thank you enough for attaching wings to my dreams. And to all who so willingly opened your hearts and gave me permission to write your stories, words cannot express how youve touched my life.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may he ox God, and not of us.

2 Corinthians 4:7 KJV

I shall not pass this way again;
Then let me now relieve some pain,
Remove some Barrier from the road,
Or Brighten someones heavy load.

Eva Rose York