One of my stories was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul A Book of Miracles and can be found at: http://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Soup-Soul-Miracles-Stories/dp/1441882227
Ike’s
Miracles
When Hurricane Ike blasted into the Texas
coast in September of 2008, my life changed forever. Ike’s 12’ surge ran
through our home like a raging river destroying most of our possessions and our
home. My mother’s words rang through my head repeatedly, “Everything happens
for a reason and for the best!” But, what could be positive about a natural
disaster destroying our home?
While we were sifting through our
belongings, an overwhelming sadness consumed me. Why didn’t I take my high
school yearbooks, my writing journals or my childhood jewelry box? These pieces of history were now a part of the
huge trash heap in front of our home. I tried to focus on the belongings that
were saved rather than lost, but I secretly grieved for these mementos.
For years I’ve believed that angels are
among us. I had a collection of angels made of various materials. These symbols
of help were placed throughout my home to remind me of the angels’ presence.
But Ike was not a formidable foe for these angels. Each figurine had floated
from room to room and landed gently unbroken. Upon finding each angel, coated
with a layer of mud, my faith strengthened.
When a female representative from our
insurance company finally contacted me, I was distraught to find that this was
her first disaster. “A newbie,” I thought sadly. “God, could you at least send
someone who has had some experience?”
While working at the house waiting for the
insurance representative to arrive, I noticed an older gentleman visiting with
my neighbor. Soon he meandered up to our house. He introduced himself as the
State Farm insurance representative and mentioned that his wife, who was part
of his team, was on her way down the street.
“I was told that a young lady fairly new
at claims would be helping us,” I said with a puzzled look. As if in answer to
my prayers, he grinned and said, “Well, she was sent elsewhere, and you are
stuck with my wife and me. We’ve been in the business for too many years to
count, so we’ll get you through this without much pain.” I wanted to hug him -
and I did before the meeting was over.
We were blessed with two insurance reps
and they gave me the comfort of loving grandparents at a time when I
desperately needed consoling. I was beginning to believe everything does happen
for the best.
At times though, my optimism was
overshadowed. What were we going to do long term? Where were we going to
live? How could we replace all of our possessions? The magnitude of
these questions overwhelmed me.
After living with my mother-in-law for a
month, we realized we had to find a rental property closer to our home. After
several calls to realtors and apartments, we realized we had waited too long –
there were no homes available. Our dog and cat were not welcome at the
apartments and the rental homes had all been taken. In the midst of my panic
something told me to give Katie a call.
Katie was my friend and the Girl Scout
leader of my daughter’s troop. After the storm first hit, Katie called to tell
me her parents had a second home located in Seabrook which had not flooded and
to let her know if we needed a temporary place to stay. I called Katie, “Would
your parents consider renting their home to us long term?” Later that day,
Katie called to tell me her mother’s story.
Her mother, Mary, had prayed that her home
be spared in the hurricane, and if spared, she’d do whatever God intended with
the home. After Katie called and asked if we could rent the home, her mom felt
that it was God’s intention for us to live there. The best part was the home
was completely furnished, and we had the most wonderful landlords that renters
could ask for.
I’ve observed grace in others’ lives when a traumatic event takes
place -- for instance, when there is a death in a family. For a short period of
time, grace surrounds those closest to the deceased, and though they grieve,
they often have a feeling of calm and faith permeating their lives. For the
first few months after the hurricane struck, I felt thisgrace in my life. I
felt that everything would work out even in the midst of turmoil.
Another article which was published in Change Magazine in the September 2006 issue.
A Change in Emotion
Suicide. The mere word evokes an array of emotions,
guilt, fear, anger and sadness to name a few. For anyone who has lived through
the suicide of a friend or relative, these emotions are vivid reminders that
the grieving process is ongoing.
I recently lost a friend to suicide. My memories of
him appear in the least expected places. While cleaning, I find the knickknack he
once gave me for Christmas. While scrubbing the crock-pot I remember his love
for my cocktail meatballs at our Christmas parties. Our deck at dusk reminds me
of the stimulating talks my husband and I had with him. Emotions flourish and I
find myself on the verge of tears at the most inopportune moments.
Any death can cause such emotions, but suicide
carries the extra emotional baggage of guilt. Questions run through the
survivor's mind such as, "Could I have stopped this from happening? Why
didn't he tell me he was depressed? Why didn't I notice that something was
wrong?"
Anger
also shows its ugly head with thoughts such as how could he do this to us, or
how could he be so selfish, or why didn't he call. Although these emotions are
valid, nothing seems to soften their affect.
I believe everything happens for a reason and for the
best. This saying has been drilled into my family for generations. When
something traumatic happens, the expected words, "Everything happens for
the best," ring out from my mother, my siblings, or from my own children
as well. This optimism is hereditary. But, how can it apply to suicide?
I
turned to a close friend who had experienced suicide first hand after losing a
family member. I asked her, "What do you think happens to their
soul?" I wanted the comfort of knowing that I would see my friend again in
the afterlife, but I knew some religious beliefs indicate that taking one’s
life prevents the soul from moving on, especially to heaven. The answer she
gave provided the comfort I needed.
She
told me she had discussed suicide's effect on the soul with many people, some of
whom were religious leaders. Although she received many varied beliefs, the one
she cherished most was the following.
When
we come into this life, each of us has a purpose and lessons to learn. We have
relationships with those around us to aid in learning those lessons. She said
many people try to commit suicide but fail because it is not their time. Perhaps
people who succeed in suicide have one more important mission in life: to take their life so others might learn an
important lesson from their death.
This
concept made my head whirl and I began to realize that this was the answer to
my question, "What good could come out of suicide?" This new belief
changed my entire attitude. My anger was gone and my guilt was no longer needed.
More important, this forced me to begin looking for my important lesson.
How
had this event changed my life? I thought back over the past few days and
realized that I had an uncontrollable urge to let friends and family know they
were important to me. Emails were sent, phone calls were made, and people I
don't talk to on a regular basis were contacted. The loss of my friend created
a need to touch those people and let them know they were special to me. This
was my lesson, and it was not taken lightly.
From
this day forward I vowed to cherish those I love and to let them know that
often. The impact of death causes emotions to soar and perhaps this lesson will
fade in time, but I will keep all of the reminders throughout my home, the
knickknack, the crock-pot, our deck at dusk, and remember my dear friend's
parting lesson.
