Lightning

They say lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice. I say, it may not, but it sure can strike an inch to the right of the original location.

Do you ever think you got through a trial never to see that circumstance again? Surely God wouldn’t allow challenges and trials of the same kind. Yet, we find ourselves in the same predicament on another day.

I came home from picking my oldest son up from a meeting and walked into the house. I was happily surprised to hear my husband vacuuming. I walked into the house further and saw my two little guys running towards the bedroom with beach towels.

“That’s odd.” I thought.

As I walked further into the house, I realized what was going on. A flood. Water was pouring from our vents and down the walls. I stood in shock for a moment and then heard my husband from upstairs.

“Call water rescue before we lose the second floor of this house.”

I ran outside where it was quiet and began to Google. Called the first place only to reach a dead end. I thankfully got a hold of the kindest woman on my second try. She reassured me and let me know someone would be there within the hour. We used that time to grab buckets, towels, pull carpet up, and shop-vac as much water as we could. We knew the drill. This wasn’t our first rodeo.

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you; don’t be distressed, for I am your God. I give you strength, I give you help, I support you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

This is not our first major water incident in this home. It is our fourth. We have been here, done that. Lightning didn’t strike in the same place. But, it did strike an inch to the right. 

“You’re a good good father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am”

Christ Tomlin

Later in the day, I was in my laundry room switching the towels from the washer to the dryer. That’s when the tears flowed. I was exhausted. The day of the flood was the only day in all of May that we didn’t have a million things going on. I was worn out from the craziness May brings and then faced a disaster. I was worn out and beat down. I just needed a good cry.

While I was hiding in my laundry room (Honestly, it was the only quiet place in the house.) crying this song kept running through my head: “You’re a good good Father. It’s who you are. it’s who you are. And I’m loved by you. It’s who I am, it’s who I am.” My circumstances changed. They went from happy and relaxed to chaotic and all over the place in a split second. Yet, God never changed. He was still present. He was still who He is. He didn’t move and He did not change.

Tough times will come our way. The book of James tells us this (specifically James 1:2-3). We may even face the same trial in a different way more than once. I have had three miscarriages, four floods, and other trials that were the same, yet different. And in each of those moments, God didn’t change and He didn’t move. He hasn’t changed in your circumstance either. He is still right by your side even when He feels miles away. 

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

You may never get a reason for your predicament. You may never be able to answer all the “whys.” What you can have, however, is purpose if you allow it. We feel most out of control in our chaotic moments. When the storm blows through, we feel like we are hanging on for dear life. What if I told you that you have far more control in those moments than you realize. You may not get to choose your challenge but you sure as heck get to choose your reaction. 

I had a choice the other day. I could be angry, made, and frustrated. I could have yelled at my husband and scolded my kid for flushing the toilet. I could have. But, I didn’t. Not because I am some strong holier-than-though human being. Nope. Not in the slightest. I didn’t choose that road because I knew it would bring me nothing but more heartache. I knew that the only thing I could control in an uncontrollable situation was my reaction. And that, my friends, feels much more in control than anything else.

I decided that day (my husband, too) that we couldn’t control the flood. It happened. We’ll have to make the repairs and some sacrifices to do so. But, we still had each other. We still had so much goodness. There is ALWAYS hope and there is ALWAYS something to be grateful for.

We ended the day out back grilling up some yummy steaks (Thank you, Walmart grocery pick-up for being scheduled that day), swam, and had our first s’mores of the summer season around the fire pit. We laughed about who heard “Laurel” vs. “Yanny” and I got a sweet hug from my middle guy out of the blue when he noticed my eyes were red from crying. This is what we will take from this chaotic day: an evening of sweet time together outside even though inside walls were being torn into and fans plugged in.

You always have a choice. Lighting may not strike the same place twice, but it sure can strike an inch to the right. Remember, there is ALWAYS hope, ALWAYS something to be thankful for, and you ALWAYS have a choice.

Love & Blessings,

Meg