I recently flew with an angel named Carrie. Here is her story in her words:

After venturing out on a layover in downtown Portland, I stumbled upon a young woman, sleeping on a busy street with her dogs; a beautiful large chocolate Labrador and equally precious brown chihuahua mix. As I passed them a sense of compassion filled my being & I turned around and walked back to check if she was okay. She didn’t look all that well however her canine companions were friendly with tails wagging. I knelt down and asked, “are you okay sweetie?” she looked up dazed & answered, “I’m cold & sick, but otherwise alright.” I asked if she ate anything and she stared at a small Styrofoam container next to her with rice. I smiled & noticed a convenience store just behind us. I walked in, grabbed some bottled water, crackers & jerky for her and the dogs, considering this was the best choices available. I then asked her if I could give the dogs some jerky and water which they gobbled down immediately. After a minute or so, I asked if I could call anyone for her, she looked up again, with a faint hope and said, “yes, my mother please.” she gave me the number but there was no answer, I left a brief message and explained I was a flight attendant on a layover in Portland and why I was calling. I then told her to wait there, and headed back two blocks to Ross’s department store to find her something to keep her warm for the night. At that moment my phone rang, it was Laura’s mother, Teddy. She told me how Laura traveled the country and did really well for herself as a writer until two years ago when she met someone who introduced her to drugs. She explained these last two years has been so hard for her as they live in Massachusetts and Laura is in Portland seeking treatment for drug addiction. She poured her heart out and cried as only a Mother can. I cried with her and told her how I came to meet her daughter. I assured her that I just bought her some blankets to keep her and her dogs warm, a hot meal for dinner and some company for awhile. I was scheduled to depart back to be on an airplane in five hours. We walked to a nearby park and I told her how wonderful I think she is and that she was WORTH something. She was uniquely intelligent and talked about her dreams and goals of being a writer. She is only twenty three years old yet the depression and what she called embarrassing turn of events made her look so much older. I reminded her that picking herself up was the only option for her and that it was possible. I gave my testimony about being twenty six years old, with three children under the age of five, separated from a man also addicted to drugs. I had to make a choice to leave or be destroyed but the spirits of my children gave me the courage to not give up. She looked so different after our talk, as if the light began to flicker inside of her. Laura then called and spoke with her Mother and promised to call her tomorrow once she got settled with a plan. We talked for bit longer before I headed back to the hotel. I asked if I could take a picture of her and her dogs, Stumps and Pablo and send it via phone to her parents so they could see she was okay.

Once back at the hotel I sat on my bed and tears began to fall, I felt the hurt and pain of the young woman and her parents, but especially her mother. It hit me like a bolt of lightening, I cried uncontrollably for two hours. This divine meeting will forever be etched in my soul and I wait for the day that I can read a best selling book by LAURA.