The storm clouds were raging all across our state!
That is often a
typical Summer day in this middle of the country we live in.
Most of the afternoon one of the network channels had
suspended their regular programming to broadcast information
about the inclement weather. Over and over we watched the
radar light up its vivid multicolor from the wind, rain,
hail, and lightning in the storms.
So, we were not
surprised when storm watches and warnings reached us in the
Northeast part of the state. Already I had been praying for
God??™s protection as we made the appropriate preparations for
a time like this. My husband, Jerry, went out on the front
porch to observe as the clouds grew darker in the skies.
From there he could actually hear the tornadic winds high in
the clouds.
Our seven-year-old
granddaughter, Mary Kathryn, soon sensed our apprehensions.
With her usual quiet, gentle spirit she came to me and asked
me to pray with her. I gathered her close in my arms and
asked God to put his protective angels around our family and
keep us safe from the storms.
Soon the tornado
sirens began to sound their alarm. Their long and loud sound
just heightened the fear I had begun to see in Mary
Kathryn??™s eyes.
Memories began to
surface as I was reminded of a similar situation many years
ago. Jerry was a young college student at that time. We were
newlyweds living on campus when a giant storm began to brew
in the dark night.
There were no weather
channels and no sirens back in those days. But there, also,
was no mistaking the ferocious winds with a noise that
sounded much like a giant train coming through our back
yard. I still remember the comfort and protection I felt in
my husband??™s arms as he gathered us in our small hallway
until the storm had passed over.
When Mary Kathryn
returned to my arms asking me to pray with her again, I
realized she needed the same comfort and protection I had
felt that stormy night long ago. I took her sweet little
face, with the anxious eyes, between my hands. Right there
in the middle of the huge storm we were in, I asked God to
remove Mary Kathryn??™s fear, and to replace that fear with
peace.
She unwrapped herself
from my arms and went back to the shelter that we had
prepared for them in the hallway. Picking up her game that
she had taken to the shelter with her, she began to play
with her sister, Faith.
Right before my eyes
I saw the fear disappear. The storm still clapped with
thunder and the tornado sirens rang out again, but I saw
only peace on Mary Kathryn??™s countenance.
Soon she came from
her little corner of the shelter, hugged me and said, "Thank
you grandma for praying. God has answered our prayer! I am
not afraid anymore."
Mary Kathryn??™s
child-like faith was much increased that stormy day as she
literally lived out Isaiah 41:10 (NIV). "So do not fear; for
I am with you??¦" became a reality neither of us would soon
forget.
?© 2003 Melva Cooper ??“
jmelva @
cox-internet.com
-----------------------------------------------
Melva Cooper is a
free-lance writer from Jonesboro, Arkansas. Melva is a
contributing writer to Obadiah Magazine, Christian
Motorsports Illustrated and a Team Writer for Just-A-Minute
Devotionals.. She is a staff writer for
www.catchfence.com
and has numerous articles published on the web.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blessings to you. Have a great week ahead.
Bob Johnston
Minneapolis
Starfish @ Ripplemaker.com
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