I’ve had the same cleaning person for years. Christine comes in twice a month for three hours and I stay out of her way because she is a whirlwind!

After all those years, she knows the complete cast of characters in my life.

Last week, I was ducking her vacuum cleaner when she asked, “How is Arlene?”

My friend Arlene has been very ill. But it is difficult to help her in many ways because she is so fiercely independent.

“Let me write those checks for you.”

“I’ll make that call for you.”

”I’ll warm up some soup for you.”

The answer was always –

“I can do it.” Or, “I’ll get to it.”

Well, she wasn’t getting to it and it was apparent that she needed some full time help around to assist her. She was very weak. She wasn’t eating. Not taking her medication on time. But, she resisted.

Christina said her niece, Cathie, who is a night student in a university, was looking for a job during the day. The school was very close to Arlene’s home.

And then – the lightening bolt – Cathie had done an internship as part of her education in Hospice for a year!

Excuses from Arlene – but after some convincing from me (and her niece Janis) she agreed to see Cathie for a half hour.

It was a connection at first sight. Cathie is there helping her every day now.  This beautiful young woman took charge.

She called me to say, “My aunt told me Arlene was a lovely person but I love her!”

As usual, Arlene has made a “New Best Friend.” No one is surprised. That’s what she does. There is an indefinable magic about Arlene.

The moral to the story. Answers to prayers and angels do not always come from the direction you expect.

The angel could be you. It could be your cleaning woman.

We have to pay attention.

Check back and take a look at the original article I wrote about Arlene. The comments from far and wide are worth the visit. Just click here.

Making New Best Friends - A Tutorial From Arlene