It's Not my Time...It's HIS!

I know I stated a month or so ago that I was going to use this blog to post about my experience and research on mental illness in hopes of helping others but I have a story of God's Power and Grace that I have to share.

On February 16 I left out for New Orleans to visit my best friend since high school and her family.  Of course I took my laptop along, I'm a bit of a computer junkie, but once I got there, even though it really wouldn't have been hard for me to take a little time to write a post or two, I decided, "I'm on vacation!"  When I got back home on the 21st/22nd I thought, "OK, I'll just take a day or two to catch everything back up from being gone and I'll get back to writing and planning for my other idea (it's still a secret for a little bit longer).  Well, one or two days turned into three or four, which turned into seven or eight until March 2 came around and I hadn't done a thing.

There was always something that I thought I just had to do.  "I'm tired from work."  "I want to have a clear head when I write so I'll work on it later."  "I've got to get this house cleaned up.  Then I'll be able to concentrate."  It was like I had it in my mind that everything else in my life had to be perfect before I could tackle the road that God had laid out for me.

Yesterday was my day off from work and in my mind I had so many things I was going to accomplish that day.  But before I could get started my power went out about 9:30.  Funny, you can't run the Kirby, or the dishwasher, or the washer/dryer with no power.  You can't even get on the internet on your laptop to pass the time or do research because a wireless router needs power to be wireless, lol.  So, I decided I'd take a nap.  I could tell a storm was coming and Liv, my youngest fur-baby, was scared so I left them in the house while I laid down.  It didn't take long for Liv to find her "safe spot" under my bed. 

I've never been one to watch the news.  I've always been so tender hearted that seeing all the bad news on the news would depress me to no end.  As much as it blows my dad's mind that I don't care to keep up with current events, I've honestly never had a single moment that I've wished I watched the news.  Matter-of-fact, the only down side I've ever found was not knowing what to expect with the weather. 

That being said, I had heard at work that it was suppose to be stormy yesterday, but in my mind I was thinking thunderstorms so the idea of being scared never crossed my mind.  It wasn't until my cousin's husband called around 10:30 to check on me and be sure I knew there was a tornado in my area that I knew there was anything I should be worried about.  When I got off the phone I said a quick prayer to ask the Lord to protect me and still intended to go to sleep.  Then Daddy called to check on me because someone at work had let him know there was a tornado here.  Then next thing you know, Momma text me to call her when I could so I picked up the phone and called.  She said my cousin had text her to let her know there was a tornado in my area and she wanted to be sure I was OK.  I talked to her a few minutes and let her know I was OK and actually told her I was going to let her go so I could take my nap.

Just before I went to sleep, I remember hearing a very strong wind.  I remember thinking it sounded strange but shrugged it off and went to sleep.  When I woke up my power was still off.  I heard from my mom about some damage about 5 miles from my house.  I figured it'd be a while before I got power back and since I was going to my parents' house the next day anyway I'd just pack me and the dogs up and go spend the night there. 

As I left, the utility company was out working on the lines and had the road blocked off so I had to take a big loop around just to get out.  As I drove I saw lots of flooded fields and broken trees and then, almost exactly 2 miles from my house, I saw a house that looked like the back had been ripped off.  I kept driving and was amazed how so much of the rest of that road didn't even look like a tornado had come through.  Before I could get out of the community God told me "See how fast I could take you out of this world and you wouldn't get a chance to do the things I have in store for you?"

When I got home today, I got online and did a little research and as I read about the number of homes that were destroyed within a 2-5 mile radius of mine I realized how truly blessed I had been.  At some point, I also realized that that strange sounding very strong wind had likely been the tornado passing close enough by that I could hear it but it still didn't do any damage.

Through all of this, the lesson that was driven home for me was that I'm on God's time not my own.  He doesn't ask for everything to be perfect.  Actually, He expects us to trust Him enough to walk out on faith with His direction and know that He will handle everything.  I guess I should pay more attention to the plaque I have hanging in my bedroom: "Good morning, This is GOD...I will be handling all your problems today.  I will not require your help."

Lord, thank you for sparing me, my home, and my pets who have become almost like children to me.  Please help me to continue to grow in my faith and trust in You to realize that if You bring me to it, You'll bring me through it.  Please also be with the families who did lose their homes or loved ones Friday.  Please also continue to be with those struggling to rebuild/recover from the loss at the hands of the devastating tornadoes last April. AMEN.