At five o’clock in the afternoon, Ryan had just left a church Bible club where seven kids had prayed to receive Christ before going home. His volunteers, praying and praising God for sending the Holy Spirit so strongly, surrounded the Pastor. As the adults packed their cars to drive home, Ryan flew out, heading toward the sound of more praying youth.
But in the sky, he stopped short when he spotted a toddler running out of his back door and into the yard. A tiny red Speedo covered his bottom, the waistband resting snugly under a round belly.
As fast as his legs would carry him, he headed toward the open gate of the fence surrounding a large swimming pool. He laughed and pointed to his toys floating on the water and made excited baby talk.
His tiny feet sped toward the deep end, where he stopped and, like boys do, pumped his knees and then leapt toward the water.
All the other times he had jumped in, the little boy’s father had been there to catch him. But today his daddy was not at home, and Ryan could hear his mommy on the phone asking about horoscopes and tarot cards.
As fast as the white wings could carry him, Ryan flew toward the child. Although two guardians were quickly on their way to catch him, Ryan was faster. The child’s last pump had given him a tiny spring upward, and that’s when Ryan’s hands grabbed the skimpy red Speedo and hooked it tightly on the edge of the ladder.
Now by his side, the guardians thanked Ryan and praised God for blessing him with speed the likes of which they’d never seen.
A shrill screech of disappointment filled the air as the would-be swimmer kicked his legs and pounded the water with baby fists. He was going nowhere fast, and Ryan stayed there to make sure.
The baby’s wailing cry brought the mother flying out of the house. Her phone sailed through the air as she shrieked, “Oh! Oh my God! Oh, no! My baby!”
By the time the mother reached the baby, she was crying hysterically. The baby continued wailing and held out his arms to her. Quickly she grabbed him, and they clung together.
“Oh, I thank my lucky stars that you’re all right,” she told him.
Ryan listened while the mother told her child how precious he was and that she was sorry for not watching him closely.
In a nearby chair, the two rested and renewed their bond. The mother realized that the caught swimsuit was not a coincidence. It could be nothing less than a miracle. Her heart began to soften, and silent tears streamed down her cheeks.
“There aren’t any lucky stars, lady. In fact, there’s not any luck at all.” Ryan sat on top of a table beside them, legs crisscrossed, arms resting in his lap. “So don’t call those psychic phone lines anymore. There is a listening God, who loves you and watches over you and your baby. He has a perfect plan for your life and wants the very best for you and your family. I’m really sure everything that happens to you in life is either sent directly to you by God or that He allows it to happen so you will turn to Him. There’s either God’s protection or there’s evil. Today, God sent me here to protect your baby. He is trying to get your attention.”
Just then a neighbor came running toward the pool. When the mother saw her coming, she called out, “Ann! Oh, Ann, while I was inside on the phone, Jon ran out here alone and jumped into the pool. He would have drowned if his swimsuit hadn’t hung on this ladder.” She sobbed and pointed to it. “I thanked my lucky stars a minute ago, but, Ann, something tells me it wasn’t lucky stars that did it. Something tells me it was that God you’re always trying to tell me about.” She continued crying. “Tell me about Him, Ann. I’ll listen to you now.”
Ann’s arms hugged the woman, and she said, “First, let’s pray.”
Ryan knew that God was at work there, and he was thankful. He also knew it was time to move on to a voice that cried and prayed at the hospital. As he quickly took off, a tiny white feather blew off his wing, and it slowly drifted down and landed on the shoulder of Ann, who ministered to her lost friend.