Monday, June 14, 2010

Summer in the Midwest

Yeah, this is us, two hours ago, crouched in the basement.

It is so good to see in myself a desire

to live and be safe and protect my babies.

They were terrified.

(Well, I was scared too.)

It felt good to be scared.

It's good for me to realize that they aren't secure yet.

Their world is still so shaken, so much turned up side down, so much grief in the all the people they trust the most.

So then, something that should be normal childhood summer-time -- tornado warnings -- are terror for them.

It was good for me to see.

I am their mommy.

I will do everything in my power to keep them safe.

I did bring blankets, a radio, and the important stuff, Laffy Taffy, downstairs.

"Mommy, you haven't prayed yet."

And we did.

And I thought that no matter what happened, my littlest man was safe.

We're fine. . . just part of summer.

Tornado gone.

Rain over.

Blankets in the washer.

But each day, I learn another lesson in the school of grief.

Today:

I want to live.


I shall not die,
but live,
and declare
the works of the Lord
Psalm 118:17

3 comments:

  1. What a wonderful way to look at it. Your little Gabe is safe from harm, forever. Praise the Lord for that.

    We do not get tornados here. I would be terrified.

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  2. Beautifully written Hayley. Beautiful.

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  3. The school of grief: Not a school anyone would ever choose (You don't choose it, it chooses you) and the price to enroll is astronomical - but - I must say of any shcooling I have ever had the school of grief was/is by far the most valuable, lifechaging, refining, God seeking education EVER. Ever.

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