The idea for this blog originated from a text message I sent, checking on my friend Bonny before Hurricane Francine made landfall along the Louisiana coast. I shared with her that it was also the day my husband suffered a fatal medical issue. She wrote these encouraging words. I hope they bless you today.

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Living in Louisiana, we get used to tracking storms. From the moment meteorologists start talking about a low-pressure area over the ocean, our ears perk up. Suddenly, we’re all amateur weather watchers, discussing the potential for a hurricane and where it will make landfall and when. We know about wind speeds, hurricane categories and remember the major ones that people still talk about like Ida, Rita, Katrina, Camille and Betsy.

We also know how to prepare for these potentially life-threatening storms. We gas up our vehicles and load up on bottled water, bread and medications. We remove outdoor furniture and plants, gather flashlights and charge up our phones and computers. Ready for the storm, we board up and stay inside or leave.

But those storms are easy. From June to November, it’s hurricane season. We know what to do. And, we’ll go through the motions again and again, because that’s how we can protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Unpredictable life storms

But what about the storms we’re not prepared for? Those storms that nobody could predict were coming.

Those are the storms that will bring us to our knees, sending us out to sea and drowning us in fear, pain and despair. They blow in and blow out, and in an instant, we are left with one thing: loss.

Loss, in all its forms, makes such an impact that it becomes a part of our beings, our lives and who we become.  There’s a “before” and an “after.” And, every year, that moment that changed everything, is marked by an anniversary. A date marked in our minds and our hearts, and, again, we are knocked to our knees.

We know this storm is coming. We can predict it. We feel it. But how can we prepare for it? How do we “board up” our hearts, to make them strong against the violent winds and memories? Maybe we can adopt the hurricane preparedness list and use it to help us remain strong and vigilant.

Remain strong and vigilant

• Stay informed: mark your calendar and be aware of what’s approaching.
• Plan for evacuation: offer yourself in service to someone else in need, i.e., a shift at the Food Bank, a visit/phone call/text with someone who is lonely or go shopping to donate to a baby charity.
• Family communication plan: communicate with others, i.e., a family member, close friend, prayer partner or clergy.
• Gather emergency supplies: consider what has given you the most strength over the past year and spend some time with God talking about it.
• Survive: Yep!
• Aftermath of the storm: assess the damage and know how strong you are. Keep safe and be healthy. God loves you!

As Jesus awaited His own personal “storm” at the Garden of Gethsemane, He brought his closest companions, and He prayed to the Father. He knew the time had come to die for humankind and sorrow overcame Him too.

“Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me,’” (Matthew 26:38 NIV).

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