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I was overwhelmed with a story that filled my mind so completely I couldn’t think about anything else. It was the story of a young woman dying of cancer and struggling with her faith. How she condemned God for all of the pain and nausea and sleepless nights. How He met her where she was, and changed everything; not by taking the cancer away, but by giving her His unyielding, perfect strength even in her weakness. How indescribable Peace transformed her life. How that Peace changed the life of everyone who had the privilege of knowing her, and at the end of her life she saw the Father waiting for her with open arms.
I didn’t know her. Until then, I had never met anyone named Angela who was dying of cancer. But I knew it was a true story. And I wrote as fast as I could to get it down. Fifteen minutes later, I was left with something I can’t explain and can’t really take credit for.
If you are an Angela, or if you know someone who is, it is my prayer that this finds you where you are and is a comfort and a help. We’d love to pray for you.
Photo by the amazing Artem Kovalev, courtesy of Unsplash.
ANGELA (Arms of the Father)
Words & Music by Jason Christopher Hackwith
An angel catches her breath
Waits for death
As the drugs take over
An angel lies on her bed
In her head
She runs through fields of clover
Flies with wings that carry her away
Why does it have to be this way?
But the chemotherapy is going well
At least as far as her doctors can tellAngela, an angel longing to fly
To mount up with wings of eagles
Through the corner of the sky
Angela, I know it hurts, but hold on tight
It will be alright
When you fly into the arms of the FatherAn angel cries all alone, prays
"Take me home."
The pain just never leaves her
An angel shudders in sorrow
Hugs her pillow
Bitterness consumes her
And her heart condemns God's heart
Why did the cancer get this far?
They tell her she has six months to live
It's just far more than she can giveAngela, an angel longing to fly
To mount up with wings of eagles
Through the corner of the sky
Angela, I know it hurts, but hold on tight
It will be alright
When you fly into the arms of the Father
An angel waits for a sign
Never mind
It is far too painful
An angel lays down her life
Starts to cry
And the tears like rain fall
Down across the desert of her soul
Why does it hurt so much to let goAngela, an angel longing to fly
To mount up with wings of eagles
Through the corner of the sky
Angela, I know it hurts, but hold on tight
It will be alright
When you fly into the arms of the FatherAn angel closes her eyes
Places her life
Into the hands of Jesus
An angel looks to the sky
Spreads her wings and flies
Carried by the Truth that frees us
And the souls left at her bedside down below
Stand in awe of the Peace she came to knowAngela, an angel longing to fly
To mount up with wings of eagles
Through the corner of the sky
Angela, I know it hurts, but hold on tight
It will be alright, it will be alrightAngela, an angel longing to fly
To mount up with wings of eagles
Through the corner of the sky
Angela, I know it hurts, but hold on tight
It will be alright
When you fly into the arms of the Father
Vocals, piano, and keyboards: Jason Hackwith. Copyright © 1997-2023 by Jason Christopher Hackwith. All Rights Reserved.