More than twenty years ago, what began as an ordinary walk in the park, would become an extraordinary affirmation of our Blessed Mother’s love and the strong hand of my Holy Guardian Angel.
My family and I joined some friends for a November weekend in Yosemite National Park where the crisp, winter air mingled with our warm breath in lingering puffs of frozen vapor.
From our little place on the ground, it seemed that every majestic evergreen, with every noble branch, reached upward in a glorious chorus toward a brilliant sun in the mantle blue sky in homage and praise of God, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Our midafternoon arrival faded to evening. We gathered wood for a cozy, crackling fire, sipped some good wine, prepared dinner, and enjoyed the rest of the first night indoors. We attended Sunday morning Mass at Our Lady of Sierra Parish.
Afterward, we decided to take a casual hike on one of the nearby trails and explore our surroundings.
The forecasted snow flurries had yet to begin falling to transform all things lush and green into a wintery white wonderland. We were on a trail that seemed well traveled and safe enough for everyone. We discovered a beautiful waterfall and descended another path to the pool at the bottom. After posing for some photos, we climbed back up to the trail and continued our hike.
It was just around the bend that the trail narrowed to about two feet. Mom was in front with our daughter in the middle as I watched everyone from behind. My words, “be careful girls,” were immediately followed by the most horrifying moment that any parent can imagine.
Our baby lost her footing on the slippery soil. We were about thirty feet up looking straight down a certain deadly drop. I don’t remember lunging to catch her but that’s exactly what happened.
I found myself belly down, fully prostrate on the ground, desperately holding on to our daughter with one hand by the hood of her winter coat. My upper torso was in the balance over the precipice. I can still see her knitted blue and gray tassel hat tumble through the air in slow motion to the rocky bottom.
She dangled with her hands and feet outstretched and frozen between heaven and earth – between mortality and eternity.
Had we not insisted, against her objections, that the coat be fully zipped, our little girl would have slipped out of her “life jacket” and fallen out of our earthly embrace. I pulled her up to safety with a single grace-filled yank!
The adrenaline of fear and terror rushed through every fiber of our being. We collapsed and held each other as our tears fell in bittersweet streams of indescribable joy, wordless praise and thanksgiving. With the resilience of a normal six-year-old, our daughter cried for a few more minutes and decided she wanted to continue the hike.
“Can we just not talk about this anymore?”
She had one personal request: “Can we just not talk about this anymore?” The trail ahead was wide and very family-friendly. We stopped at a beautiful vista, snapped a few more photos and returned holding hands the entire way back.
Weeks later, I was hanging my daughter’s coat and was so thankful to see the Miraculous Medal that I pinned on the inside pocket long before our memorable walk in the park.
The moral of this unembellished testimony is consecrate yourself to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Place your total wellbeing, and that of your family and your household, under Mary’s Mantle invoking her intercession and protection.
I am all Thine and all I have is Thine, O most loving Jesus, through Mary, Thy holy Mother.
Cultivate an intimate relationship with your Holy Guardian Angel. He’s been entrusted to you in God’s love to light, to guard, to rule, and to guide you to heaven and, yes, when necessary, to give you a lifesaving push.
To quote Dr. Ray Guarendi, renowned Catholic clinical psychologist, author and television/radio host:
“Walk with God and hold your kids real tight by the hand.”
Originally published on Catholic Exchange, July 23, 2004 in Parenting & Family
© 2026 Brian Kravec
2 Responses
Praise be to God, Our Blessed Mother and our Guardian Angels.
Yes! Yes! Yes!