Brendan and I called down to visit our son and his family one evening. It was around bedtime. Some of their children gathered in the living room as their mum and I talked.

They were telling me that they had been at the River Quoile Countryside Park. One of the boys said to Esther “Show granny the feather you found today.” She produced a large white feather.

I said, “Oh your angel may have dropped a feather.” I had just been reading a book called “Seeing Angels” by Joshua Mills. In this book he describes that some angels he has seen have very large feathers!

Everyone went quiet and listened. I continued telling the children that there are angels encamped around them to deliver them. Also each child is allocated an angel. Scripture says Your angel beholds the face of God in heaven. I told them not to be afraid of the dark or danger.

Their Mum told me they were climbing over the ruins of a castle without fear. A man came up to her and rebuked her for not looking after her children.

She remembered me telling her about a New Zealand couple who let their children run and climb and jump with freedom. Irish parents are more fearful. Don’t let Jimmy climb that tree. He might fall and break his neck. We took our friends example and let our children roam as well.

Later Mum said she was talking to two of her boys the night before about angels after one awoke with anxiety. I repeated exactly what she had told her boys. I got my grand children’s attention.