Merry-go-Round Miracle

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November 29, 2008

Mary B., a Pennsylvanian, met Peta online about five years ago. Peta, a resident of Australia, had published an inspirational story titled “I Can,” and when Mary came across it while surfing the Net, she was so moved that she got in touch. The two became good email friends.

Peta’s story was truly amazing: she had broken her neck after falling off a trampoline when she was fourteen years old. Not expected to live, much less move about again, she had proved everyone wrong, and had regained much mobility. Despite disabilities which included severe walking difficulties and a

clawed hand, Peta had eventually had returned to school, and graduated with honors from college. Her grit and determination was impressive.

Three years ago, Peta won a ticket to travel anywhere in the world. Of course she chose Pennsylvania! Mary was determined to show this courageous and enthusiastic woman as much of the United States as Peta could manage. And apparently, she wasn’t the only one involved in the plans…

“While we were in Los Angeles, we spent a day at Disneyland,” Mary says. “Peta was able to get on several of the gentler rides, and even the teacups, which made her smile and laugh with every turn. ‘It’s a Small World’ had special meaning to us too—we couldn’t live much farther apart, but were still friends.”

The day had been a complete success—-until Peta saw the carousel. Her eyes shone. Immediately, she wanted to ride a horse. Mary tried to discourage her. “I knew she would have trouble getting up onto a saddle, and holding on, and I wondered if the circular force might cause her to lose her balance and fall.” But Peta yearned for the experience. She went to the man in charge of the ride, but reluctantly, he refused to put her on a horse. Then she asked people waiting in line. “Everyone was concerned for her safety,” Mary recalls. “I think some of them would have liked to help, but no one wanted the responsibility.” Slowly Peta began to accept the fact that she was not going to ride on the carousal. It was too bad, Mary thought. Peta had overcome so many obstacles, and yet this seemingly-minor challenge was going to defeat her….

Just then Mary saw a young couple simply come out of the crowd and towards Peta. They seemed to know what was required. “My boyfriend will lift you onto a horse,” the young woman assured Peta. She had incredibly blue eyes, Mary noticed, and a kind of sweet gentleness about her. Peta noticed it too. “Oh, thank you!” she cried, clasping her hands.

Quickly the couple lifted Peta onto the largest, most beautiful horse on the carousel, and the music started to play. Suddenly Peta was transformed into a gleeful little girl, her face full of joy as she reached another of her longed-for dreams. Mary rode beside her, ready to grab her if Peta lost her balance or her grip, but she managed just fine. Mary was surprised that the young couple had not stayed around to watch Peta’s delight, and wondered how she would lift her friend down when the ride ended.

But she needn’t have worried. As the carousel slowed, the same couple seemed to come out of nowhere, once again carefully lifting Peta down to the ground, and making sure she was steady and had her walking stick. Mary also helped to settle her friend, and when the two women turned to thank the couple, once again they had vanished, seemingly into the air. Mary was getting a tingly feeling.

“Did that woman seem to be….glowing?” she asked Peta.

Peta nodded. “And where did they come from? They were here, and then gone!”

The two looked at each other. “Do you suppose…?” Both had hit upon the same possibility. They had been visited by a pair of angels, whose job was to do nothing more than to give Peta a happy day.

“We’ll never know this for sure, but God works in wondrous ways, and nothing is too small for Him to care about,” Mary says. “In fact, Peta is coming to Pennsylvania for Christmas with our family this year. She is hoping we can provide her with snow, which she has never seen.” Mary is already discussing it with the angels.