Excerpt: 'Among Angels' by Jane Seymour

Oct. 5, 2010 — -- Actress Jane Seymour is well known for playing a Bond girl in the film "Live and Let Die" and Dr. Michaela Quinn in the TV series, "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman."

The mother and wife is an author several times over, and she has branched out in the design of clothing, jewelry and furniture.

Seymour also has been recognized for her work with the disabled and needy. Her new book, "Among Angels," is an inspirational work that focuses on the presence of angels among people.

Read an excerpt from the book below and head to the "GMA" Library to find more good reads.

ON THE WINGS OF ANGELS

Believe in Miracles

I have many friends that do not believe in luck. They believe in blessings. Likewise, I do not believe in coincidences. I believe in miracles.

A coincidence is a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous. - Anonymous

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Goodness Shall Follow Me

The Angels… regard our safety,Undertake our defense, direct our ways,And exercise a constant solicitudeThat no evil befall us. - John Calvin

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Mother's MessagesJust after my mother Mieke passed away, my sisters noticed that at their feet--where they always sat and watched her--was a white feather. They looked around the room and found no source of feathers. When they called her close friend to tell her the news, she was in my mother's house, and said she had just discovered a white feather under the portrait of my mother that I had painted.

Since then, Mieke's white feather has appeared in our lives many times in many places. Sometimes it will show up humorously, like at a party we're sure she didn't want to miss. But they most often appear when we are in a moment of indecision, when we don't quite know what to do. James found one in a script he was having trouble working with. I just found one in my girlfriend's car.

My mother lived with an open heart, and we believe she is still very much in our lives. As soon as you see the feather, it instantly puts you into a conversation with her, and you can hear her advice. By constantly reminding us of her presence, she continues to share her wisdom and love with us even though she cannot physically be here.

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Looking UpIf you want to improve the view, look up!

I believe that if one always looked at the skies, one would end up with wings. - Gustave Flaubert

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Hope Has Wings

O welcome, pure-ey'd Faith, white-handed Hope,Thou hovering angel, girt with golden wings! - John Milton

********* FAMILIAR ANGELS

Our Angels, Our Friends

Angels walk among us. Angels speak through us. But what about the angels that are "us"? The people we know and love dearly – our family and friends – who inspire us with their love. Strangers that go out of their way to comfort or care for us. These, too, are angels.

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My Father's Love

The day before he died, my father and I had a long conversation about the possibility of heaven. He was a humanist, and he fervently did not believe in heaven. Jokingly, I asked him to give me a little haunting should he be wrong. He chuckled and agreed. It was the last time I ever saw him.

Not long after he died, my life fell apart. I lost everything financially and emotionally. I had no idea how I was going to move ahead. It was then I received the call to play "Dr. Quinn." I have always felt that this unique role, playing a doctor in a historical period, was a gift from my dad. My father was a doctor who shared his passion for the history of medicine with me my entire life. We would visit the Museum of Medical History. I had a microscope at the age of 7, watched surgeries at the age of 10, and worked as an auxiliary nurse in his hospital. It was part of our special bond.

No one knew I had that background, and yet, in my moment of greatest need, I was given this special role that enabled me to support myself, raise my kids, and continue in my life. I'd like to believe it was his "haunting," and that he was sending me a message of love from heaven.

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An angel is someone who helps you believe in miracles again. And that is a friend, lover, child.- Anonymous

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