In the fall of 2003, the eye of Hurricane Isabelle passed over the little town of Surry, Virginia. I remember that the wind sounded like a freight train as our young family huddled in the hallway. By morning the storm was gone and so was our electricity and water. The parsonage had escaped any real damage, our van had a few more dings but we were safe and sound.
Some of our dear friends hadn't faired so well. Their home had been destroyed. When we arrived at their "house", Bill was crawling out of a broken kitchen window. The gas stove stilled worked and he had made a fresh pot of coffee. We drank coffee in the rubble. Bill and JoAnn Greene never lost their sparkle.
My Wayne didn't lose his sparkle either. Last weekend the nurses had to shut the ICU down due to visitors. The man could barely talk yet he was entertaining a crowd. There is powerful strength in friendship. The storm has passed, the damage is done and the rebuilding is already in full swing. We are not in this recovery alone.
We are grateful. God is good.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpwered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
You are never alone. Never. But it's nice to be reminded of that tangibly, isn't it?
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