On July 19, our town was hit by a tornado. Sapphire was at our house to visit for the afternoon. I got a text from daycare (The Peanut was home with me, but they just send all texts to the whole group). It said:
"Parents! Children are in a safe shelter location! Please wait till storm warning has passed before coming to pick them up! Thank you!"
I had heard no sirens and received no other alerts on my phone. Confused, Sapphire and I checked our weather apps. Sure enough, there was a tornado warning stating tornadoes had been spotted in the area. We went to the basement with Peanut and the dogburts to wait for the warning to expire. We were down there for a half an hour with no so much as a rain drop-- the warning would expire in 15 minutes. We were just starting to wonder if the storm would simply go around us, when all of a sudden there was a lot of wind and a pressure change. Sapphire sat on the floor to comfort the dogs, while I held Peanut, wrapped in a blanket. I prayed.
It was over as fast as it had started. When we emerged from the basement and looked around outside, we looked like we had been hit pretty hard. In the days that followed (and still, every time I drive to work), I realized the tornado just missed us. A block north of us was WAY worse. Our air conditioner was smashed by a branch, once window on the front porch blew out, and the garage door was blown out as well. However, our roof was intact and all windows in the house were intact as well. Our house was very safe and livable.
Reports after the storm revealed there were no lives lost due to the tornado- Praise the Lord!
On the Sunday morning after the tornado, I looked back at my devotional for July 19. I hadn't read by devotional the day of the tornado, but here are bits of what it said:
"I am your Help and your Shield...You definitely need Me as your Shield. I protect you from many dangers-- physical, emotional, and spiritual. Sometimes you're aware of My protective work on your behalf, but I also shield you from perils you never even suspect. Find comfort in this assurance of My powerful Presence watching over you. Fear no evil, My cherished one, for I am with you." - Jesus Always, July 19 (p. 210)
God's hand was on our town that day, and I know that the Lord has spared us. I also know that there is so much more I don't understand. God is reminding me over and over again that His ways are higher than mine, and the picture is so much bigger than the little bit that I can see.
Our weekly meditation is taken from the devotional on the day of the tornado:
"We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield."
Psalm 33:20
I am clinging to my hope in the LORD and His sovereignty, not only as our town rebuilds after the storm, but as our little family continues to wait on our adoption. We've hit a small snag, and we are praying for guidance and waiting for some answers. Your prayers would be appreciated!
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