Article Contributed on: 10/25/2006 8:24:50 PM
Judy, my cousin by marriage told me about a special place when I visited her in Indiana last month. The Angel of Hope statue and garden started as a place of remembrance for people who had lost their children but now is dedicated to anyone that would like to have their loved ones remembered.
My brother-in-law, Marvin and I went to see the Angel statue in South Bend. It is very moving to see the names and ages of the children and adults carved in the brick courtyard.
Judy has a special place in her heart for this place. Her oldest sons' name is on one of the bricks. He was only 20 years old when he was electrocuted while working near an overhead power line in South Bend. I cannot imagine the pain of losing one of your children.
After his death, Judy discovered that his girl friend had had an abortion, his baby.
She also has a brick inscribed for this precious little baby.
I have heard that there is also an Angel of Hope statue and garden in Pueblo but have not checked it out yet.
This message is displayed by the angel to give comfort and hope.
On Hope.
Hope is a rare gift that, if we are lucky, comes to us with the power to heal our lives.
I've come to know that the deepest sense of hope often springs from the hardest lessons in life. It is in the darkest skies that stars are best seen.....
perhaps it is divine irony that within the darkest moments we are capable of revealing the greatest light, demonstrating what is best with humanity.
Richard Paul Evans