The Smallest Angel Gets The Biggest Job

Ilah was the smallest angel in Heaven. She had dark curly hair, a smile that lit up the stars and a giggle that made even the most serious angels chuckle. She could fly faster and hide quicker when she was called to sweep the heavenly floors, or wash the golden plates.

You couldn't help love Ilah. She was always there to greet newcomers and show them around heaven. She loved to play, but her favorite past time was resting on a cloud, daydreaming.

One day, there was a very secret meeting in Heaven. All the important angels who wore beautiful golden crowns were invited to attend. But not Ilah. She had no crown. And many thought she was still too young to understand important meetings.

Ilah watched as all the angels filed into a large room where the door was shut firmly in her face. What could they be talking about? She wondered. She tried to peek through the keyhole, but it was too small. She put her ear next to the door but could hear nothing.

At last, she gave up and sat on a cloud to sulk.

When the meeting was over, the angels came out, all talking excitedly about a baby being born. Ilah tried to make sense of what they were saying but it was all too confusing to her.

Later that day as she was finishing up polishing a star, she heard her name being called by Michael the archangel. He was the largest and finest angel in all of Heaven and could play a trumpet so beautifully it made Ilah want to tap dance.

Michael the archangel was sitting behind a long, wooden desk, trimmed in gold. The knobs on the desk drawers were made of large diamonds. The chair he sat on was covered with red and purple silk pillows.

Michael stared down at Ilah as she stood before him. She was so small he had to bend over the desk in order to see her. Her legs were shaking and her small wings were quivering.

What could this mighty angel want with her?

Michael smiled and told Ilah that she was not in any trouble. Instead, he had a very special errand he wanted her to do. Ilah immediately relaxed and all her fear was gone.

"A baby is going to be born on earth very soon," he explained to Ilah, "and you are going to be the baby's special guardian."

"Me?" Ilah gulped a few deep breaths. "Why me?"

"Because you are a child and can understand a child's ways better than an older angel."

"What will be my duties?" Ilah asked.

"Very simple," Michael explained. "The little boy will be born in a manger. You are to keep the cows from frightening him, keep the flies out of his face, and watch over him when his mother sleeps. Do you think you can do that, Ilah?"

"One last thing, but very important," Michael emphasized. "If there is any hint of trouble you are to contact me immediately."

"When do I leave?" Asked Ilah.

"Tonight. The choir of angels is warming up now to announce the child's birth. By following the bright star in the sky, you will find the manger."

"Does the baby have a name?" Ilah wanted to know.

"Yes," said Michael. "His name is Jesus, which means ‘God with us.'"

"How wonderful," said Ilah and clapped her hands.

That cold winter night Ilah joined with the other angels singing and telling the Shepherds of the baby's birth. The Sheppard’s were shouting praises and falling on the ground they were so surprised.

Ilah followed the bright star for a long while until at last it stood over a small barn. She peeked inside and there was the mother and father, and baby Jesus all curled up in the hay. Of course they couldn't see her, but that didn't matter. She petted the cows and calmed them down.

Next she shooed the flies away and stayed awake all night while the mother and father slept. This was the best assignment she had ever had. Not much to do but keep things quiet and make sure the baby was well taken care of.

One day, three wise men showed up with some gifts. They bowed low before the baby and worshiped him. They mentioned that a distant king also wanted to know where baby Jesus was so he could also come and worship him. For some reason, Ilah didn't like the sound of that. She became alarmed. She made a quick trip to Heaven and told Michael the archangel what she had overheard. He told her she must warn the mother and father in a dream. Ilah had never done such a thing, but she was willing to try.

That night, after the mother and father had fallen asleep, she slipped into the father's dream and told him that the king who was looking for Jesus was a very bad man and he must take the mother and child and leave right away. She hoped he believed her.

The next morning the father told the mother what dream he had and he believed it was from an angel of God. So they gathered their donkey, blankets, food and baby Jesus and traveled to a country called Egypt. There they stayed until Ilah once again warned them to leave and to settle in Nazareth.

Ilah watched over Jesus until he was twelve years old when he became a man. Once when Jesus couldn't be found, Ilah led the mother and father to the temple where Jesus was talking with other teachers about the scriptures.

Since that time, she is always called in to special meetings in Heaven. She sits right next to Michael the archangel with a small crown on her head and opens the meeting by blowing his trumpet.