The recent ice storm caused such destruction in our area, especially to the trees and power lines. In about 36 hours, hundreds of thousands of people were left without power and living in the dark.
When the freezing rain began in the afternoon on October 26, Bob had been isolated in our master suite for 10 days because of COVID-19. I had been quarantined during that time and was sleeping upstairs in our guest bedroom. Our home is surrounded by very large trees and even before I went to bed that night, I could hear some of the limbs beginning to crack and break from the weight of the ice. I moved to the living room that night to sleep, not wanting to take the chance that a large limb would crash through our roof. I found comfort in being near Bob, even though I could not be with him. I had candles ready in case we lost power.
In our moments of darkness, I was humbled by the places where help suddenly came, and I was so grateful. Bob was in isolation and these were a couple of his more difficult days. I was trying hard to manage the situation at our home while keeping his health and safety at the forefront. On Tuesday, we lost power for 12 hours, but we lived the day not knowing how long it would be off. As it turned out, we were blessed to have our power restored so quickly.
Our tree damage was extensive, and our street looked like a war zone. Yet, within a few hours, a friend found a way to get to us with hot coffee and tea, ice, a hot lunch, and salads for dinner. Another friend brought us a new thermometer because ours had become defective. When I realized that afternoon that a three-foot wall of tree limbs and debris on our driveway blocked my ability to leave the house, I beat down the panic that I felt and prayed for God’s strength to sustain me. I felt that it was imperative that I be able to take Bob to the doctor, should the need arise. While I managed to drag most of the limbs off to the side and shoveled the ice and debris, several huge limbs still blocked the way. A young man in the neighborhood came with his truck, chains and chainsaw and cleared the way for us. That night tears flowed in grateful relief. Over the next few days, there was a steady stream of friends leaving food, hot soup, supplies, and magazines on our front porch. My heart was touched at the kindness and love we had been shown by so many members of our family of faith.
As I prepare now to reflect upon Christmas, I am reminded that’s exactly what happens in times of darkness. Hope comes from places that you would least expect, even though you didn’t earn it and don’t deserve it. It’s a gift. That’s how God works in our lives. In those moments of darkness, we trust that God’s light will shine like a star over a cradle in Bethlehem. It will be unexpected, but we know because of this child, we can always have hope at Christmas and be filled with gratitude. Jesus Christ is the Light of the World.
Marsha Long, Director of Hospitality
