November 20, 2008

AN ANGEL ON EARTH HAS BEEN CALLED HOME

"The extraordinary thing about Kathleen King is not that she was run over by her own car on Monday.

It's that at 80, Ms King was at work."

This is a quote from the Albany Times Union.

Ms. King was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. She reached out to help her fellowman in need in whatever capacity she was able. She was AN ANGEL ON EARTH. People like Ms. King make a difference in the lives of the people that they touch. Many people have no one to see or talk to. Then there is a knock on the door, and AN ANGEL ON EARTH is there with not only a meal but a kind word and smile on their face.

According to the Times Union, "she called her clients, "her peeps". She came to adopt them as her extended family. For one man, like so many clients who usually see no one else except the postman and a Meals on Wheels volunteer, she'd take home his clothes to wash or sew buttons."


As people are living longer, there are many who are living alone but need some help. Volunteer programs like Meals on Wheels and other volunteer programs help people to stay in their homes and live out their remaining years in dignity. Our ANGELS ON EARTH provide a much needed service. Many of these ANGELS are your friends and neighbors. They are the ones who are always busy, rarely gossip and are usually upbeat even when their own hearts may be breaking.

They are there to help whenever and where ever they can. THEY ASK NOTHING IN RETURN.

I have never met Kathleen King, but I have a vision of her in my head, that shows GOD waiting with open arms to embrace her as she was recently called HOME.

On Tuesday, she was delivering a meal to one of her "peeps", when she was hit by her car. "She got out of her car and walked around the front, only to realize, too late, that she hadn't put it in park. It hit her, pinning her underneath it. Though rescue workers arrived within minutes, she was hospitalized with a head injury".

This morning, as I began my day with reading the morning paper, I read with sadness that she died. I said a prayer for this ANGEL ON EARTH but rejoice in the firm belief that GOD greeted her with a huge smile, open arms and said, "WELCOME HOME".