Tuesday, May 21, 2013

~STAYING STRONG IN OKLAHOMA~

First of all I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to call, email and comment regarding the tornadoes that tore thru Oklahoma on Sunday and Monday.  Small towns and cities across our state have been pummeled to the ground and the loss is beyond devastating.  Your continued prayers for Oklahoma are greatly appreciated and mean more than my collective thoughts can convey.

At present the rains are coming down making rescue and recovery all the more challenging.  As difficult as it is to watch I can't pull myself away from the non-stop coverage on the News.  Seeing our Oklahoma land ripped up only twenty miles from us and knowing people have died is beyond overwhelming.  I watched just this morning as an elderly woman shared how thankful she was to be alive.  It was then her little doggie, no-doubt her trusted companion, crawled out from beneath the rubble.  She was sure he had perished...a precious Schnauzer unbelievably survived her entire home being flattened.  This my friends was a total God-thing.  We are praying for more wonderful stories like this one.

As a result of all of the devastation I'm reminded again at how fragile life is.  How in an instant everything known and loved to us can be gone or changed in the blink of an eye.  I'm beyond grateful our Edmond home missed being hit on Sunday.  But that gratefulness doesn't even compare to how thankful I am that our son and his family, by the grace of God, missed getting any damage from the tornado that tore through Moore yesterday afternoon.  My Miss K attends fourth grade at a local school and her elementary school isn't too terribly far from the two completely destroyed.   I'm overjoyed at her and her family's safety~but my heart is broken over the thought of those who lost their lives.

I do not presume to understand why God allows all He does.  I only know that it is in times like these we are all forced to confront the fragility of life.  What seemed so important a couple of days ago doesn't even register upon our hearts or in our minds today.  Just maybe, just maybe good things will come our way as a result.

One of my beautiful mother's favorite songs came to my mind this morning...  Written my Mosie Lister many years ago, it says what I cannot...

TILL THE STORM PASSES BY

"In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,
While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place.
'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

Many times Satan whispered, "There is no need to try,
For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by"
But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise
Where the storms never darken the skies.

Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

When the long night has ended and the storms come no more,
Let me stand in Thy presence on the bright peaceful shore;
In that land where the tempest, never comes, Lord, may I
Dwell with Thee when the storm passes by.

Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by."  
Love to you... 

22 comments:

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

My hubby and I were talking about your family and the devastation just last evening...it is so hard to see the pictures and hear the stories. Prayers for all.

Theresa said...

Love to you dear Rebecca! I am thankful your family is safe and SO sad for those not so fortunate! Big hugs and continued prayers for you and your community!

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Darling Rebecca.... I've been praying for you... I knew you were close-by and was so worried for you... So glad to know that you and your family are safe....

The words in that song couldn't be more perfect, could they? So many prayers for comfort for those who have been affected. How heartbreaking...

Sending big huggies dear girlie...

xoxoxo
S

Victorian1885 said...

Thank you for updating us Rebecca. I have been thinking about you and your precious family all morning. Stay safe!

Love
Wanda

Terra said...

Oh the terrible losses, and miraculous survivals, like of the lady and her little dog.
I love this song and am copying it to read from time to time; thanks for posting it.
I am happy you and your family are safe.

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Rebecca,
Great wordings for that favorite song of your dear Mother!
How only 20 miles could have been the passage to eternity.
Let's hope indeed that something good will come out of this tragedy. Prayer will unite a torn country and mend its people best...
Hugs,
Mariette

Trisha said...

God Bless you and your family Rebecca, I know He holds you in the hollow of His hand. I love that song too. It is so fitting. Hugs and Prayers, Trisha

Sherri B. said...

Dear Rebecca, my thoughts and prayers are with all of you and will continue.

Much love and big hugs!

Anonymous said...

I have been watching & holding my breath for you from here in the Northeast. May God hold & protect you all in his loving arms......
Marilyn

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Stay safe Rebecca, your family and the rest of the state are in our prayers.
Hugs,
Judith

Goosegirl said...

Rebecca, I am so glad you and your family are safe. I am praying for Oklahoma and those who have lost so much.

NanaNor's said...

Dearest Rebecca, Praising the Lord for His mercy over you and yours; continually praying for all those who have suffered loss. I saw the dear lady on t.v. this morning that you mentioned-how very sweet that our Papa sent her dog back out of the rubble for her. Praying many more will be found alive. I couldn't understand why you all don't have basements til my good friend, who lived in Wichita, told me it is because the water table to too high.
Sending love & hugs to you today.
Noreen

sharon's shabby creations said...

Dear Rebecca,

I am so happy that you are safe!! Prayers for every one out there!!

Hugs Sharon

Anne said...

I am so glad you and your family are safe.We continue to pray for all that were affected <3
xx
Anne

Linda Breedlove said...

It's such a blessing to know that you and your family are safe, Rebecca dear. The Penmaker and I will continue to pray for Oklahoma, for those who have lost their loved ones, for those who have lost home and possessions.
I have always loved this song and more times than not, it brings tears to my eyes. God is good and he's still on the throne.
Love to you and your family.
Big hugs!

Ginger said...

I can't quit watching it either. I saw the sweet lady that found her dog also and cried like a baby. There are some good stories in all the devastation. It's just so awful. I'm thanking God for all my family who live in Moore who were saved from this monster. Stay safe.
Xo
G

Shirley said...

Hi Rebecca, I had to quit watching because all I wanted to do was cry. It made me so sad to see all of the terrible destruction. We have family in Wichita. They had damage, but they are o.k.. You can replace homes or whatever, but you can't replace a life. God works in mysterious ways, but I know that he will be there to help us through. It is good to see your update. Take care. Hugs and many Prayers from Your Missouri Friend.

Maggie said...

Dear, sweet Rebecca

I too was glued to the t.v. today, and kept thinking of you and those near you.

Whew. It is all mind-boggling.

Your post was beautiful and heartfelt. Thank you for sharing your feelings and your heart with all of us.

May God continue to watch over you, your family, and especially those who lost so much.

xox,
Maggie

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Dear sweet Rebecca,
You were the first one I thought of when I heard the news! I know I have other blogger friends in the state but I'm not sure who they are. I am so thankful that you and your family are unharmed. Be assured of my prayers and those also of the caring folks here in Canada. Take care, my friend.

Blessings & hugs,
Sandi

Jocelyn said...

So glad to hear that you are safe. Very heart breaking and sad to see the devastation. You are so right, life is fragile and things in life can change in an instant. Take care.

Jocelyn

Mari said...

I too have been glued to my television watching the devastation that took place in Oklahoma it's beyond belief my heart aches for so much lost and heartache and I have been praying hard for them all, I'm so happy you and your precious family are all doing well ;)

Blessing to you and yours sweetie~
Mari

Patty Patterson said...

When you see things like this it reminds you to be grateful. No matter how much or how little you have, it can all be wiped out in a moment. So sad.

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