The Great Ice Storm Of 2021

Ten days, nine nights, 211 hours. That is how long the electricity was out. It was a long, dark, and cold ten days. 

There are so many trees down and damaged and so much personal property damage, so much food that had to be thrown out (I threw out nine bags myself). 

My house suffered damage. One of the panes of my double paned sliding glass door was shattered in the early hours of Saturday morning, as well as part of my deck being torn away by branches from the wetlands behind me that landed on the deck (so thankful that my brothers in law came this summer and limbed the tree out back, or without a doubt the damage would have been so much worse).

I have to admit, with the events of the past year, my rose-colored glasses have become a little less rose colored. In my opinion, the world in general has become decisive. This cancel culture in which we live has made people just give up on each other when they don't agree, and that makes me sad. 

While I was stretched in ways I didn't know were possible, I saw faith-affirming things happening during the last ten days.

There are too many people to mention by name, and I would not want to embarrass anybody, but you know who you are. I am ever so thankful for the many family, friends, acquaintances, and even people I have not met in person who called, texted, or emailed to make sure I was okay or to see if needed anything or just let me vent; offered a place to sleep or a to get warm; offered a place to take a shower and cook me a hot meal; let me come do laundry; gave me a place to charge my devices; offered groceries, generators, motel rooms, and money. And thank you PGE for your tireless work these past 10 days. I know the sacrifices you and your families make to get our power back. I am thankful for the provision of power, and I pray I do not take it for granted again.

It is through trying times in our life, that we are able to grow and learn. It is when we are tested that we are able to rise, push through, and come out the other side stronger, braver, and better. The truth is, there are some important lessons in life that we are only taught through difficult times and they can become the silver lining to the darkness (pun intended). It was through this difficult trial that I learned much –

 

        I learned about humility

        I learned to ask for help

        I learned that I need community

        I learned the depth of my strength

        I learned I need to be better prepared

        I learned to be grateful for what I do have

        I learned trials help me grown in my faith 

 

While I may have went 211 hours without electricity, I am so thankful for what I did have in the midst of it. God met me in the craziness of the past ten days, and He did it in ways I never could have imagined.