JAN'S TALES...Josh's Angel - WWW.GUARDIANTALES.COM

Josh's Angel

(This may not actually be considered a 'ghost story', but it does involve an experience with a former spirit of an unborn child.)

1992, Western, KY,

I remember the windows being open that night back in 1992, with a cool Autumn breeze playing with the tail end of the curtains. It was around three in the morning when a bright light coming from the adjoining bathroom awoke me. I arose to set up in the bed, blinking my eyes, trying to focus thru the haze of sleepiness and saw my son Josh, whom was a little past two years old, standing just inside the doorway of the bathroom, bathed in a golden light, looking up and seemingly very busily talking with someone in his own half English half toddler language. It wasn't registering quick enough, inside my foggy mind that the strange colored light was not the regular emissions from a G. E. 75 Watt light bulb, but the eeriness of the scene was soon awakening inside me.

I called out to Josh, just saying his name aloud, trying to catch his attention, but this only awoke my husband whom was beginning to squint his eyes against the golden glare streaming into the other side of the room. We caught each others eyes, not saying a word but reading the concern and obvious questions between our silent communication. He too arose and sat up in the bed and called out to Josh. This time the two year old little boy turned his head towards us, gave us an ear to ear grin, then just as quickly turned back around to say 'goodbye' to his visitor and blow him a quick kiss. When he turned around to come towards us the golden light gently faded away, taking a few seconds to diminish, leaving only the night light shinning. Josh was climbing up in the bed between us, his diapers making that soft crinkling noise and settled down inside my arms. His skin was very warm and his eyes bright and cheerful as he gazed up at me with a loving look.

"Josh," I began, pausing briefly, choosing the right words to say, "who were you talking too?"

An emotion washed over his face like pure bliss, closing his eyes as if to savor the moment again, smiling with such a peaceful image and letting out a deep sigh, he replied with two simple words, "My angel".

Jimmy and I caught each others eyes in surprise, my lips in a half smile like 'how precious but is it true?' along with a raised eyebrow. Turning over on his side to face Josh, Jim asked him, "Josh, does your angel have a name?"

His head turned towards his dad and he nodded and said at the same time, "Yeah,...his name is Cody".

Again our eyes locked, slight alarm registering in both of us, a well of tears threatening to brim over and run down my cheeks. I began to say something then got a little choked up, so I had to clear my throat and began again, "Um, Josh, do you know...um, do you know who your angel is?" His face turned towards me, he nodded with a 'yes', letting his hands play with some of my long blonde hair that was laying across his shoulder and chest, and then he spoke with a careful soft whisper, "Mommy's first baby".

My eyes closed, the tears spilled, I felt Jim's hand find mine thru the blankets and squeeze it with a comfortable understanding. Cody had been still born after nine months of pregnancy, five years before Josh had come into the world. Something that had never been mentioned around him. Something Josh would or could not have known.

So, laying in the dark that night, with my two favorite 'men' snuggled together, I said a heartfelt 'Thank You' to God. I had never questioned His decision to take my first child those many years ago, nor was angry with Him, for I always believed there was a reason, a supreme decision had been made and I could not fight with it, only battle with my own depression and sadness over the next passing years, and still maintaining my faith in a higher power. Sometimes we never know in our lifetimes why the Universe throws us certain curves, or deals us a certain set of cards, but an answer came that night in October for me at least, an answer from beyond. A wonderful realization that our souls do in fact go on, continue to exist, and can interact with their families here on Earth.

-Jan Thompson.