There is a saying by Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
This is the running theme throughout Earth Angels by Sandy Lundy. Her book is the product of a tragic and heartbreaking event — the loss of her son to suicide because of school bullying. Instead of wallowing in her grief, Lundy poured her heart into this book in hopes of bringing out the earth angel in each one of its readers so that we become channels of grace, positivity, comfort, motivation, and inspiration to others just like her late son was.
As the sprinkling of stories show throughout her book, the author emphasizes that it does not take much to become an earth angel. While many may think one needs wealth, power, and influence to make a difference in others, it doesn’t. Sometimes all it needs is a small gesture like an arm around a shoulder, a kind word, an altruistic deed, or just one’s presence. Sensing when a person is in distress is one thing; acting on it and offering any small help or comfort is what makes one an earth angel. Empathy is an important life skill that can help anyone become an earth angel.
We really cannot tell what is going on in anyone’s life because the state of one’s mental health is not readily visible. Sometimes, the one with the widest smile or the funniest antics is the one nursing the deepest pains and hurts. I am reminded of Robin Williams who always made us laugh and who smiled a lot. Yet, behind all that was pain and suffering that resulted in his untimely demise. It made me wonder if he could have been saved had an earth angel reached out early enough.
The chapters of Earth Angels dwelt mostly on bullying (including online bullying) because this was the author’s son’s world. It would have been nice though if there were more examples of earth angels in different and broader situations so more readers could relate. There were also several pages devoted to psychological analyses and social media behavior that threw me off a bit as it felt more like I was reading a self-help book rather than a book about earth angels.
Overall though, Earth Angels is a wonderful reminder that in a world that is getting darker and darker, compassion and kindness serve as beacons of hope for those who are on the verge of giving up. For the author, this book is a healing tribute to Shane, her son. For the readers, it shows that each one of us has the capacity to ease the burden of others in small and big ways. We only need to become more aware of the world around us and see people with empathic eyes in every situation.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a free digital copy of the book in exchange for this honest review.
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