An Angel on My Patio

Every morning begins with the exact routine made up of all the mornings before. Just as the alarm makes its almost silent click announcing the upcoming chime, Wolfie, our Shih Tzu puppy is awakened by the same click. He barks his message to me that it's time for him to go outside as he jumps from the bed and leads the way through the hall, through the kitchen to the door that opens out onto our patio, which gives him his freedom to the yard.

Routinely, with a mind still not functioning at full capacity, I follow Wolfie's lead to oblige his need to relieve himself. As I unlock the back door and open the screen he usually bolts and announces his entry into the new morning telling any stray cat that might be within barking distance, "I'm here".

This particular morning expressed itself by being more than routine. As I opened the door to let Wolfie greet the day, even his routine was different. He stopped in his tracks at the top of the steps without a bark and stood in the cool morning air, still and silent.

My heart felt like it would leap from my chest, as I had to double take what I thought I was looking at. I closed my eyes and shook my head from side to side shaking the cobwebs loose to give me better vision.

I was actually looking at what I thought I saw. There, knelt in front of my patio swing was a little angel, praying. Her head was bowed. Her little hands were folded together. She was quietly praying in the dark silence of the morning. She acknowledged my presence without surprise and returned to her prayers.

I was indeed in awe as Wolfie slowly walked over to the little angel. He raised his front paws as if he were going to jump onto the seat of the patio swing. Instead, he sat back on his back feet as if kneeling in prayer. As he turned his head toward me as if he was searching for some approval, the image of the little angel vanished.

The smell that lingered was a smell of clean pine trees on a frosty morning.

All that was left for me to do was smile at the beautiful beginning to my day as Wolfie trotted off the patio into the yard.

I shut the screen door as a tear ran down my cheek.