Angels Among Us: The Ivy Olson Story

One Woman's True Story of Her Miraculous Encounter With an Angel

"All God's angels come to us disguised." ~ James Russell Lowell

Do You Believe in the Miracles of Angels?

I do.

Ever since I was a small child, I have felt the divine holy presence of some supernatural force constantly watching over me. Being a strong believer in God in Christ Jesus, I naturally attributed these feelings to my faith. However, as I now look back over my life, I know with great certainty that God assigned special Celestial beings to protect me. 

What Are Angels?

Angels are spiritual beings and servants of God. They are intelligent and powerful. In fact, one angel destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in only one night (2 Kings 19:35). 

Angels can appear in human form and oftentimes bring messages from God. It was an angel who appeared to Joseph in a dream to inform him of the coming of Christ through Mary, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:20-21 NIV).”

A Story to Remember

I have heard many uplifting stories throughout the years, but only one has stayed with me. It is the true story of a young divorcee named Ivy Olson.

In 1969, Ms. Olson was the single mother of two young boys. She had just moved into a modest two-bedroom apartment and was having tremendous difficulties making ends meet.

On Thanksgiving Day, she had only three hot dogs to feed her children and no money. To make matters worse, no one had invited them over for dinner.

For the sake of her boys, she braved a smile and took them to a local park in the hopes that they would have some fun despite their grave circumstances. She grilled the dogs on the park grill, and they enjoyed their time outdoors eating together.

However, on their way back to their apartment, the boys complained that they were still hungry.

Ivy did not know what to do; She had no one to turn to and felt very much alone.

Random Act of Kindness

As Ivy and the boys neared their apartment, a little old lady came out of one of the ground units, “I’ve been waiting for you! I cooked you Thanksgiving dinner, but you left out before I could invite you over.”

Ivy stared at the woman in confusion. She had never seen this stranger before, “I’m sorry. That’s very kind of you, but I wouldn’t want to impose.” Her boys immediately begged their mother to take the kind little woman up on her offer, which Ivy did.

The woman’s apartment was warm and welcoming, and the dinner table was laden with food.

“I just remember feeling so comfortable around this person and so thankful that I was no longer feeling alone,” said Ivy Olson in an interview on the show It’s a Miracle. “Her presence was like electricity. She had a sparkle in her eye, and there was life to her.”

The Olson family dined with the little old lady for over an hour and a half. Before they left, the kind woman gave them each a gift and packed them leftovers to take home. “We had food for a week,” Ivy recalled.

Miraculous Encounter

The following day, Ivy went to take the plastic containers back to her new friend. She knocked on the door, but there was no answer. After several failed attempts, she walked over to the window and peered in. To her astonishment, the apartment was empty!

Shocked and confused, Ivy immediately went to the property manager and knocked on his door. “What happened to the little sweet lady in that apartment?” she asked.

“There hasn’t been anyone living in that unit for ten or twelve weeks now,” he said.

“No, you don’t understand. We had dinner there yesterday,” Ivy explained. The man looked at her like she was crazy, and Ivy knew that something was going on that could not be explained with human logic; she believed without a doubt that she had been visited by an angel.

A New Beginning

“If spending one hour in the presence of an angel can make me feel that amount of love and comfort, just imagine what we earth angels could do? It could make a total difference."

Ivy Olson, Founder of The Angel Network Charities

That one act of kindness changed Ivy’s life forever. “If spending one hour in the presence of an angel can make me feel that amount of love and comfort, just imagine what we earth angels could do? It could make a total difference.”

Ms. Olson eventually improved her circumstances and later founded a charity called The Angel Network Charities, which has served hundreds of homeless families in Hawaii and is still operating to this day. Her program has given assistance to those in need of housing, health care, transportation, and job training.

Her story also inspired the hit television series Touched by an Angel, and in 1992, Ivy was chosen as one of President George H.W. Bush’s "Thousand Points of Light” award, a non-profit organization supporting volunteerism.

Ivy Olson had experienced a real miracle. What began as a day of despair, loneliness, and grief ended in unconditional love, hope, and joy.

Ivy died from intestinal cancer in 2002, but her memory will forever live on through her devoted work in helping the lives of others.

So, again I ask you: Do you believe in angels?

I know I do.

Watch Ivy Olson's true angel story:

Sources for Angel Story

Gee, Pat (2002, April 10). Ivy A. Olson/ Angel NetworkFounder. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from http://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/04/10/news/story13.html

"Thanksgiving Angel". It's a Miracle, written by Jule Gilfillan and Chris Pechin, Season 1, episode 11, Try-crown Productions. Release date Sept 6, 1998. https://tubitv.com/tv-shows/451970/s01-e11-111-thanksgiving-angel-blind-skydiver-sees-thanksgiving-feeding-needy-african-hijack

An Invitation to Accept Jesus Christ

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

If you are reading this and have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I ask you to do so now. You are not reading this by coincidence. The Word of God says: "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." - Romans 10:9-10. 

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Our Heavenly Father and Creator sent Him to die for our sins (John 3:16). All sins, no matter how big, are covered by the sacrificing and atoning blood of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:13-14, 1 John 2:2, 1 Peter 3:18).

The time is now. There will be no second chance after death: "And just as it is appointed to man to die once, and after that comes judgement, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him." (Hebrews 9:27-28).

Life is your second chance. Every second of the day that you live, God is giving you the chance and opportunity to accept the gift of salvation given to all of us through His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross.

I repeat: There will be no other chance after death.

Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matthew 7:13-14.

Which road will you take? The choice is yours, but the time is now, because tomorrow is not promised to any of us. (Proverbs 27:1).

There is no "in between" either. You must pick a side, for Jesus Christ has said, "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." - Matthew 12:30.

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" - Matthew 28:18-20.

How to Accept Jesus Christ into Your Life

1. Confession of Sin: Acknowledge you are a sinner and need forgiveness (Romans 3:23)

2. Belief in Jesus: Believe He is the Son of God, died for your sins, and was resurrected (Romans 10:9)

3. Repentance: Turn away from sin and self-centered living.

4. Invitation: Ask Jesus to come into your heart and life as Lord and Savior.

5. Commitment: Choose to follow Him and live for Him.

6. Gratitude: Thank God for the gift of salvation and eternal life.

I plead with you, with all my heart, to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Please repent of your sins, and profess with your mouth from your heart the following: that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 20:31, 1 John 4:15, Romans 10:9), He suffered and died on the cross for the sins of the world, God raised Him from the dead three days later, and He accended into Heaven and now sits at the Right Hand of our Almighty Father and God (Hebrews 1:3, Romans 8:34). He will come again to judge both the living and the dead. (2 Timothy 4:1). And, finally, please make every effort to get baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, Matthew 3:15),

You must confess all of the above things from your heart for the gift of salvation that was given by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, on the cross. If you need some help, please use the example below as a prayer from Pastor Rick Warren:

"Dear God,

 I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will.

 In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

Remember, it's not just about the words, but the sincere attitude and change of heart that matters to God. You can pray in your own words or use the prayer above.

Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World! Please accept Him into your heart and life today and spread the good news!

I testify by the Holy Spirit of God that these things are true. I say all of this to you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, our Lord and Savior, amen.

"Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." - Revelation 22:12-13.

Author’s Bio

Isabella Boston is a wordsmith and the creator of Bella’s Attic Studio: A multi-media writing platform and storytelling blog specializing in copywriting, marketing, and content writing.

She is well-versed in medical terminology and scientific research with a focus on the areas of neuroscience, immunology, and functional health. She is also a diarist, creative nonfiction writer, and self-published author.

Aside from being a writer, Isabella is a book lover, a language enthusiast, and, most importantly, a woman of God in Christ Jesus.