Maya Angelou said: “Every storm runs out of rain”. Am I convinced of this? Not yet. Over time, the rain has changed to a sprinkle with the occasional, unexpected downpour. Our storm began alongside Hurricane Helene. She was a beast, and she continues to thunder, but we are finding reprieves in the unexpected.
The Beginning
Nine months later I am still watching the sky. What will tomorrow bring? Yes, Helene was a horrible hurricane that washed through everything we knew in Yankeetown, Florida. She made a fast impact and left in a day, but that was only the beginning for us.
I Roll On
I will not write about the damage, the loss of property, or even the loss of sentimental belongings. Those things did and still do have meaning, but I now see how the loss of them is the least of my worries. I look at pictures and remember how I loved that antique barrister bookcase and the wicker loveseat where I used to watch the quiet town travel past. Even the décor that bothered me now conjures emotion. I roll on. The pitter-patter of rain holds my attention, for this storm has not yet run out of rain.
An Inaudible Storm
As the storm moved northeast, we packed the car tight. She would no longer be able to live there. Age was part of the storm. Now I realize it was the quiet beginning of the storm. It was the part of the storm we all tried to ignore. She was independent and wanted to stay that way. We could not blame her for that. Behind the clouds an inaudible storm was brewing. Health was escaping her. It was the part of the storm we thought we could manage with shelter, jackets, and anything else that protected her from decline and possible harm. Helene brought reality with her, so the car was loaded, and we ran with our storm right alongside.
Rebuild
So, this is why God saw it fit for us to live in a house with a full basement. She would live with us for the next seven months. It was chaos at first but little by little we tried hard to rebuild her world. Her favorite blanket, the wooden seagulls, her blue lamps, and even the suitcase of essentials packed for evacuation made the storm bearable at least for a while.
No Time to Look Back
Every storm runs out of rain. I’d repeat that often, but the rain was not over yet. The waters were not rising as fast, but the wind was blowing and thunder rumbled nearly every day. Everything had to be considered. Living space, kitchen supplies, doctors, stairs, bedding, new clothes. This list was unending. The rhythm of life had to change and like the arrival of Helene, there was no time to plan, think, and certainly no time to look back. In a storm, the best we can do is hold on and look out for one another.
Walking in a Storm
Will you help me with my hair? A question I had not expected. I stopped, put down the dirty dishes, and found her brush. I touched her hair and brushed it gently. We were silent; we both knew we were walking in an unpredictable storm.
Each time I returned to her chair to help with her hair, she reminded me she was tough, and I need not brush so soft. I agreed. She was one of the toughest women I have known. When life was calm, her toughness might have been annoying, but as I brushed, I realized how much I needed her strength to ride out the rain.
Every Storm Runs Out of Rain
Our storm is settling ever so slowly. The rain still comes when we least expect it, but we grab the umbrella and do what she would expect of us. We weather the storm without her now, but for her, we stay strong. Daily, we are picking up the pieces and trying to reclaim the peace. When you find yourself in a storm, don’t ignore the unexpected breaks of stillness for you will need them to restore you. Pick up the brush, listen to the rain, and know that maybe, just maybe every storm runs out of rain and leaves us with strength we never knew possible.
Stay Curious,
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