“Prediction,” 9″ x 10″ watercolor By Donna Lyons © 2010
By Marty Coffin Evans © 2023
“I don’t look like the other angels,” the littlest one said mournfully floating in the westward sky. “My shape isn’t the same, my wings don’t match and my halo isn’t round. My right wing looks long and stubby, my middle part is lumpy plus my other wing looks stringy,” the little angel lamented.
This little angel knew what they were supposed to look like. After all, having floated around for years in the clouds, the angel had seen many others and had a pretty good idea of the most right appearance.
The wise old angel knew this little one hurt because of being different. “Just because your wings don’t match and your halo isn’t round doesn’t mean you’re not special. You are very special, just wait. You’ll see, and, you’ll begin to change ever so slowly.”
Even as the little angel’s shape began changing, looking to the south, at least three, four and more, smaller angel-shaped clouds were forming. They were even more unique than what the little one’s had been.
“I wonder if they’ll begin to look like me,” pondered the little angel. By now, happier with a halo more round than oblong, the little angel floated happily along in the blue sky.
Slowly an opening in the right wing revealed a beautiful contrail with its two bright white streaks headed skyward toward the larger clouds above. “Maybe these clouds were adult angels whose shapes didn’t matter anymore,” mused the little angel.
Sure enough, the wise old angel’s prediction had come true. Even passing motorists had pulled over to watch the angel-shaped cloud’s transformation. While the little angel’s feathers had always been beautifully full, soon the wings filled out and became more symmetrical. “Just remember,” as the wise old angel had said, “Symmetry is over rated!”
This little angel happily floated ever closer to the large cloud, satisfied that being different was okay. Maybe that was especially so if others began looking like you. “The wise old angel was right after all,” said the little angel with a sigh.
July 2024