I’m Little Carol and I love thunderstorms with their wind, rain, flashes of lightening and loud claps of thunder. I learned early in life to have no fear of thunderstorms as long as I was inside. My mother taught me that thunder was God driving His horses and wagonIs across wooden bridges in heaven.Teddy, our
border collie was hired to be the “cow dog” and trained to bring the cows in from the pastures for milking. He did not buy into the story and was terrified and didn’t believe mom’s explanation about God and His horses and wagons. Teddy always sounded the alarm when a storm was approaching. Long before the dark clouds floated into view, Teddy was up to the house and dad could go get his own cows as far as he was concerned. He would hide shivering and whining in his corner in the back room until mom took pity on him and let him in the house where he curled up and whimpered under the barrel back chair in the living room. If Grandma Caroline was visiting, who also was afraid of thunderstorms and hid in her stair case at home, would join Teddy. They stuck together. Grandma crying while setting in the chair and Teddy underneath. It was no wonder that he headed for the house on October 16, 1954. Hurricane Hazel was fast approaching Chenango County, New York. Dad was one of the first volunteer firemen in the newly formed Plymouth Fire Company. He was with other firemen and neighbors helping another farmer gather his dairy and safeguard his barn. Mom was left home alone with four kids. My brother and I struggled to force and hold the front door closed as wind pushed from the other side as mom hammered and nailed it shut. She was crying and shouted “Ivan, where are you?” She was more afraid for dad’s safety than securing the door. Together, we got the job done. Wind and rain howled while thunder roared and lightening sent bright flashes through the sky. Mom sent us to our rooms where she thought we would be safe and I went to bed and fell sound asleep. After all, God was awake and driving His horses and wagons around heaven. I was not afraid. The next morning, I heard the wild story of the terrible storm. After Dad came home, everyone stayed up to weather the storm except me. I slept right through the chaos. I was mad that I had missed the action! Unbelievable! Or was it? God is our calming presence in the midst of life’s storms. We put our hope and trust in HIm.
Faith Break Moment
April 14, 2020
Throughout human history God has been with His people. The 23rd Psalm offers us comfort and courage during the stormy times in our lives. We are in the midst of the storm of Covid-19 which is in addition to our regular daily life situations. Like Hurricane Hazel that Little Carol talks about today, this will pass. The verse to hold on to right now is “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me”.
Blessings!- Psalm 23:4: Let’s walk together through the valley standing strong in our faith. God is with us.
