That I may be " . . . like a tree firmly planted by streams of water. Which yields its fruit in its season . . . " Psalm 1:3
This week we experienced a severe Colorado thunderstorm. The storm began with an unusual stillness in the air that is often a foretelling that "something is coming!"
As I was closing our bedroom windows, I heard the rustling of leaves and noticed that one of the trees outside was bent over almost halfway to the ground.
Though I could not hear the sound of wind, it was obvious that this tree was being affected by the wind. Soon, the sounds of strong, whirling winds, ping-pong sized hail and crashing thunder surrounded our house. My husband, Bob, was sound asleep (which amazed me) and I woke him up with an urgent "Honey, get up! We may have to go down to the basement."
For the next hour or so, we held watch together. I walked through every room in the house waiting and watching. We listened to the emergency radio broadcast updates of "flashflood and severe thunderstorms" warnings and precautionary instructions. Most of the thunderstorms that we experience here in No. Colorado are like a weather show, but this storm was different and I was afraid.
The storm passed almost as quickly as it hit, and we headed back to bed for the night. Bob went to sleep immediately, I lay there for awhile listening to the distant thunder, and I began thinking about that tree outside the window, how it had bent over in the wind, and I wondered if it had survived the storm.
The next morning, Bob and I walked around our home checking for damage and I was glad to see that all of our trees and plants had survived the storm; the only visible damage were leaves and twigs on the ground - a simple clean-up this time.
This storm was a good reminder for me that we never know what's ahead and that as my brother-in-law says, "we live on a beautiful, but dangerous planet." It was also a reminder that like all of God's creation, He has created us to survive the storms of life by bending to His will rather than resisting and fighting His will and purpose in our lives.
The robins and doves that roost around our home are active and singing again, and the weather is calm. I know there will be more extreme weather brought to our area by Summer storms, and I also know that there will be more "storms of life" ahead.
I am thankful for God's reminder through the example of the tree outside the window that He has designed us, His people, to bend to His will and plan for our lives. I am also reminded of the importance of being deeply rooted in His Holy Word and in an intimate relationship with Him through Christ Jesus our Lord and King.
Bending and Yielding,
Angie "a mom like you"
amotherlikeme@gmail.com
www.amotherlikeme.info
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