“When Angels Fly” by S. Jackson and A. Raymond is not a book you want to read by the cozy fireplace with a glass of wine. It is a heartbreaking story you want to absorb with every inch of your body. This story will stay with you for a long time after you flip the last page. It took me all night and a box of Kleenex to go through the agony of the woman who was struggling, making the best of her tragic life. In a mesmerizing recap of the author’s excruciating experience with life, I relived my childhood and my mother’s destiny.
Suffering women and victimized children are scarred for life. It was hard to relive Jackson’s misery and the tortures she underwent. I felt her pain, her hopelessness, and her agonies with each bone, because I was a child of an abused mother, who never left her abuser. Unlike the author’s mother, my mom sheltered her children with her body, protecting us from our crazed alcoholic father. She was the mother each child should have.
This heart-wrenching story is based on everyday reality that the author experienced throughout her life. Her journey was not a cakewalk, and Jackson keeps a detailed journal of what she had to do to survive her horrible ordeal and preserve her painful memories. Since the day of her birth she was tested, abused, and victimized. Her faith in humankind, family, and love are lost, but she is a survivor who keeps her last hope alive, a faith in God. It took her a long time to realize that she is worthy to be a normal human being, to feel happy and raise her children in peace and a safe home. It is not easy to break away from an abusive mother and husband and domestic violence. Wounds may heal, but the aching scars are constant reminders of everyday pain, every minute of struggle and the irreplaceable loss of her two children. The author is right: only one who has lost a child can closely relate to a mother who has kissed her baby goodbye for the last time. After many years, I still see the pain in my mother’s eyes.
This story is an autobiography, based on true events. The author plunges the reader into her misery from the first page. Abuse, suicide, domestic violence, and finally social acceptance and the confidence to stand up to her cruel mother and leave her abusive husband were an emotional ride for me. The photographs prove that the people discussed in this book are not made up, but the painful memories of the author’s life.
Jackson writes with passion and the understanding that this story will open a can of worms. Every word is a hurting reminder that many children suffer and die every day from abusive and unfit parents. Her story screamed to the world: Please listen to women and children trapped in horrible families and relationships. This story is their voice, their hope, and their escape. It is not easy to open your soul to the world and share the painful recollections. It takes strength and courage to say NO to the abusers, but Jackson did just that. She encouraged the forgotten scared women and helpless children to look for a way out and to start their lives over again. Not an easy task, but the author proved it is doable.
This book is a clear reminder that there is a way out, there are good people in this world, and there is life after darkness. I hope her little angels look over all scarred children and their grieving mothers. Please stop your busy lives for a moment and take a close look at your blessings. Stretch out your hand to the helpless, sick, and needy, wipe away the tears of a crying child or just hug the person next to you. Kindness matters and support encourages. A little sign of love will not go unnoticed. Stand up for the voiceless, and do not be afraid to be a voice for victims, as this author was.
And for those who are still treating their women and children as slaves, one day you must answer for your sins. The victims are resilient people. They will rise above their pain and hardship and will find their way into the world, just as this author did. Life is unfair, but the spark at the end of the tunnel is very reachable. It was hard to read this memoir, but well worth it. It is a passionate and uplifting journey from the darkness to the light. Must-read story!
Biography
I grew up in a small Kansas (USA) town and I lived in more than one state since then. At this time, my husband and I split our time between Kansas and Colorado (we love the mountains and off road 4-wheeling). Traveling is one of our most favorite things to do and I always have a book or even three books that I read, in the same week. Books were really my thing. It seemed like every time I turned around I was obtaining a new library card due to the current one being stamped complete. Diving into a good book made any day perfect and you would be surprised at the number of books I read over and over. I drew paper dolls and clothes for them, and using watercolor as my medium when painting scenes, especially flowers. I continued with art in high school exploring a wide variety of arts and I loved it! The creative side of me loves to be an amateur "shutter-bug" and we actually have an online art gallery. In college I went into the sciences of all things and received a Bachelor's degree in the Science of Nursing. My nursing career was highly successful and I hung up my nursing hat in December 2012.
S. Jackson is a retired registered nurse; a member of the Catholic Church, and has taught kindergarten Catechism; she has worked in various capacities for The American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Cub and Boy Scouts, (son, Noah, is an Eagle Scout), and sponsored trips for high school children music. She loves all forms of art but mostly focuses on the visual arts; such as amateur photography, traditional, and graphic art as her health allows.
A. Raymond is a member of the Catholic Church, and has helped his wife with The American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Cub and Boy Scouts, and sponsored children alongside his wife on music trips. He devotes his spare time to fishing, reading, playing poker, Jeeping, and travel adventures with his wife. Both love spending time with their grandson, Austin.
