Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat  – Joe Mazzella

January 8, 2008

LAUGHING ANGELS

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     My youngest son doesn’t talk much. He has severe Autism that hampers his ability to speak and communicate. It also locks him in his own world much of the time. Yet, when he laughs and smiles he can light up the darkest day. Sometimes he will break into a spontaneous spasm of giggles for no apparent reason at all. When this happens my daughter and I will often joke that his dearly departed Grandma and her angel friends must be tickling him.

     The other night while I was busy working at my desk I once more heard his musical laughter behind me. I asked, "Son are the angels tickling you again?" and got an even louder burst of giggles as an answer. I smiled and turned around to see him. There he stood under the ceiling fan with its glass globe glowing above his head like a halo. Dangling from it too was a glass angel figurine that we had tied to the light cord years before. Both the angel and my son seemed to sparkle in the light before my eyes. It was then that I realized that my daughter and I had been right all along. God did have His angels watching over my angel. I was sure too that they were sharing in every bit of laughter and joy that he was blessing this world with.

     The word angel originally meant "messenger". That is what my son is to me and to everyone he meets. Some people with closed minds and shut down hearts might look at him and see him as less than human. To me he is more than human. He is an angel whose messages are ones of unconditional love and unlimited joy. He may not say many words but his soul speaks volumes. He may appear handicapped in the eyes of Earth, but in the eyes of Heaven his light is among the brightest. I know as well that angels are watching over his every move and joining in his every laugh. I only pray that my own heart will remain open to the lessons he teaches and that my pen will allow me to share them with you. May the laughter of angels always bless your life as well.

Joe Mazzella

joecool@wirefire.com