With a Heart of Gratefulness- After the Storm

As I sit in the cool of the morning with the ceiling fan spinning and the noise of the tv in the back ground, I must say that I am truly grateful for this experience. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been hard, but a blessing at the same time.
First and foremost, I’m grateful to be alive and still with my health and hopefully good mind. J My family and friends are doing well.

Some praise reports: Our homes didn’t suffer major damage. Remember I said that I was glad that I cut the trees from around my house? Well I’m totally thankful because whereas others suffered roof and house damage, only my patio had missing shingles where the tree limbs fell through. Please pray for my neighbors. One has a tree through their bedroom; the ones behind me lost their patio and the trees pulled the power lines from the house as it pulled mines as well; the ones in front of me lost the siding from the house as well as their fence and power lines. Various neighbors had roof damage. Those with the aluminum car ports had damage as well. As I rode through the neighborhoods- Sunnyside, South Park, Hiriam Clarke, Fresno, Mo City, Third Ward- I saw so much devastation from huge trees that were uprooted to sides of buildings completely gone- namely the new science building on the campus of Texas Southern University. My school’s sign is gone as well. One of my BFFs lives in Galveston- she was blessed because her house is still intact; she only lost a few shingles. Some of our other friends didn’t fare well. Three of our island churches where we fellowship were damaged- one particularly destroyed; two church members houses burned down; the church musician lost everything in her home. They are all safe and sound. Keep them in your prayers as they rebuild.

The darkness was so engulfing that it became overwhelming one night as I was driving from Third Ward back to Sunnyside. You never really notice the street lights till they are gone. It was sooooo dark that I felt as if I was entering a black tunnel where I could only see what my headlights illuminated directly in front of me. If I didn’t know where I was going, I would have missed my exit. Once I turned into the apartments, I felt as if I was entering a ghost town. Many would leave at night around 9 to go other places. The only sounds I heard were the hum of the man’s generator and the whizzing of the cars flying by on 288.

Its really hard trying to read a book by flashlight and at times I got frustrated but I began to think about what did people do before we got electricity? They had candles and lamps! What reason did I have to complain? A hundred years ago, a laptop wasn’t even thought of so why was I have “withdrawals” about not being able to check my emails and chat with my internet family? Silly and stupid is what it was.

What good came out of it? Well, personally, I went to bed earlier and was able to get up at 5:30 a.m. well rested, except for that Saturday night that it was steamy outside. We talked more to each other instead of being consumed by the television. I met my neighbors and actually got their numbers!! I’ve been over there since 2001 and one of them never knew my name!! I only knew hers because my son is friends with her son!!! Ridiculous! Maybe if I would have been in contact with them, my AC unit wouldn’t have been stolen during the IKE episode. We also met some of my sister’s neighbors. One is a TSU alumna and we knew some of the same folks from Texas City. Small world.

We sat/stood in that LOONGGG line on Saturday at the Ron Atest, Rafer Alston, Monica Lamb giveaway for 6 ½ hours. A mess! They promised generators, gas cards, batteries and many other things. That didn’t happen. It was VERY disorganized as well. They lines were suppose to start moving at 10:00. The first cars didn’t go through till 12:15!! Ridiculous! At times it was degrading as well. I was a little pissed at one of the volunteers who acted as if my sister was bothering her when she asked for a certain size pull up for our godson. They woman gave her pampers for an infant. My sister gave them back because even my nephew and grandson couldn’t wear those. My sister told her that she didn’t want to take something that someone else could use. The woman was TOTALLY RUDE! Let me say this, it wasn’t that people were ungrateful but when your expectations are set high AND you are standing instead of being allowed to stay in your cars.
One thing that you should always have is a word AND a plan. The organizers had neither. Now they came on the radio after the 5th hour and stated that someone had broken into Monica Lamb’s storage and stolen some things. Folks didn’t believe that. Then we saw the truck with the generators. Now we knew that they would be few and that’s understandable- but to let the truck roll by with the generators and then say we have no generators- that was crappy. People talked about FEMA but once they got here, things flowed smoothly at the pods. They got you in and got you out with the bags of ice, case of water and box of MREs, which my mother is currently enjoying. Frankly she is getting a better of variety of meals with the MREs than if she had to wait for me to cook… sad… I know but I’ll get better.

Let’s wrap this up!!!!! Although I’ve been doing my own praise and worship over these past days, it felt SOOO good to be with the saints on yesterday. Even though we were in the dark except for the lamps, the spirit of God was present! The generators ran the sound system so we were able to sing with music and mics and the fans kept us cool. I was cooler with the lights off and the fans on than I am when everything is up and running…lol . My pastor preached on the Power of Praise Psalms 34 which begins: “I will bless the Lord at ALLL time and His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” It goes on to say, “Oh magnify the Lord with me and let US exalt His name together.” We must remember to praise God in the good times as well as the bad times- especially in the good times because sometimes we forget who has made it possible for the times to be good! As you begin to praise and you have the relationship with God, you began to enter into worship and oh how sweet is it to be in the presence of the Lord!!! One thing that I know for sure is that although I couldn’t depend on the lights to stay on and run things, I know that I can ALWAYS depend on Him. Even though the physically lights were off, I pray that the light that is within me was able to shine bright for others to see God. I pray that we don’t let our lights go out once the electricity comes back on. I also learned that instead of a vacation fund, I need to set up a hurricane account so that I can get a battery radio so I won’t have to text Glen for the updates. J I am also grateful for the friends who allowed us to come and share their lights, water and air for a couple of days. I pray that I’ll be able to show my appreciation for them real soon because they didn’t have to do it, but I’m glad that they did. Oh one more thing, whoever stole my brother’s truck and his drums, God’s going to get you for taking what’s not yours! Amen.

Love ya all and remember, we are the light of the world keep shining bright for him!!!!

Riding through the Storm

Well, at this moment, southeast Texas is bracing for the one of the biggest storms that has passed this way since Alicia in 83’. Ike is on his way and he has already sent a warning ahead of time. The Island of Galveston is already taking on water. I’ve been up since 5:30 a.m. and the water was coming over the seawall then; Ike is still about 18hours from hitting landfall. Although this storm is bigger than Rita, I don’t feel the sense of urgency among the natives. I do believe that we all are thinking more level headed and are really planning instead of reacting to panic. Three years ago we were heading to Cypress running from the storm. This time we are sheltering in place as we did 25 years ago for Alicia.
Do you remember Alicia? I do. I was 13yrs old at the time. They let school out then and to a kid that was great news. I remember the night before the storm hit, everyone in Scott Plaza and King’s Row Apartments were “hangin out” young and old. The wind had already begun to blow and those of us who were already in our night clothes, used our housecoats as capes and ran around playing like we were Superman and Wonder Woman J What a site! Some actually got on their rollerskates so that the wind could really lift the cape and you could fly. I remember neighbors talking to each other who normally wouldn’t speak. Everyone was concerned about the flooding and the snakes that would surely come because the bayou ran right behind our apartments.
The next morning she hit hard. Curiosity got the best of us and my sister and I ran to the window to see what was going on. The wind was sooooo strong that it actually moved the trash can from King’s Row parking lot all the way over to our parking lot. We saw tile from the roofs coming off and twirling with the wind. It was amazing. Of course we lost power, but because we had a gas stove, we were still able to cook regular meals. I know that we went at least a day without power; with Ike, it is projected that we could be without for up to two weeks!

Riding through this storm will be a test of faith and trust. Many are questioning whether or not we should have left for “higher” ground. I have a peace and contentment that we have made the right decision. I’m glad that I got the trees cut off and from around the house earlier so that shouldn’t be any problem. I’m up grading papers, (well – after I finish this) so that if the power does shut down, I’ll have that in order for when I go back to work on Monday. The storm that is coming reminds me of the storms that I’ve had in life just this year! It’s bigger than what I have ever seen such as the storms that I’ve been through so far. But I’m reminded of the song Yolanda Adams sang some years ago that gives me and has given me peace- just look at the words:

The storms of life will blowThey're sure to come and goThey meet me at a timeWhen I'm calm and doing fineBut the Captain of my soulHe's always on boardHe rocks me in His armsWhile riding through the stormChorusWhile riding through the stormJesus holds me in His armsI am not afraidOf the stormy winds nor the waves& though the tides become highHe holds me while I rideI've found safety in the Masters armsWhile riding through the stormI have no fear of the raging seasKnowing Jesus is there with meHe can speak to my winds and he'll speak to my wavesAnd he'll make them all behaveAll power's in His handsWhether i'm on sea or on dry landI found safety (safety) in His armsWhile riding through the storm
The part that is in purple is what I’ve been singing to myself for awhile. There were times when I was afraid but I was reminded that God hasn’t given me a spirit of fear but that of love and power and that He wouldn’t give me more than what I can bear. Whatever I THINK I’m going through, He’s bigger than all of that and as long as I stay in His arms, I’m safe.

I say this to you all, especially those who are here in Houston getting ready to ride through Hurricane Ike; be reminded of who our captain is and whether its Ike or a personal storm that you are going through, God is there to keep you safe. Even when your boat is rocking hard and the water is coming over the deck, know that you are safe because who is in control. God is so good and He is so faithful to do what He said; the question is, do you Trust Him to do so? Be safe –keep in touch and God’s blessing you all.