Storms

Last night we had a great storm in Tyler. A real downpour - even washed our huge garbage container down the street! I love to get up in the middle of the night when we have these storms and walk through our home listening to the deluge. Looking out into the night from our safe place. I love crawling back into bed with Tom hearing him and Lizzie take turns snoring. As I lay there last night, I was glad Ruby (our daughter's golden retriever) wasn't there as she has been for the last few weeks. Ruby hates storms. She feels them coming and starts freaking out long before they get here. She pants and paces and frets. When the storm arrives she looks for shelter (usually in the baby's nursery - whether here or in Midland).

A couple of weeks ago, we had gone to Dallas for the evening and returned late. There had been a storm while we were gone. When we walked in the house we noticed the child-proof gate down in the kitchen and no Ruby to be found. The nursery door was shut and paint flecks were all over the floor from Ruby's frantic scratching. I finally found her in the guest room bathtub!

Ruby has a trust issue. Storms are going to come. Jesus promised us that. He showed us how to respond in the midst of one. Trust. He slept through a storm because He trusted and knew the One in control. It's not hard for me to trust during a rain storm - in fact I love thunderstorms, the rain beating down, just curling up and spending time listening to God. But I think I am often like Ruby during life's storms. When I sense one coming, I become anxious and although I don't pace physically, I do in my mind. I become like a child and run back to childish ways. I try looking for what the world offers as shelter. I need and want to remember that God is my fortress and my strong tower - whom or what shall I fear? Nothing and no one else will minister to me.

When life's storms come and they will come again, I want to choose to be content rather than choose to cower. To choose to calm myself rather than roll into anxiety...to rest in the One who controls the waves and the winds and the "chaos" that surrounds and overwhelms. And when the storm has passed through my life I am blessed. Just like this morning's refreshment after last night's storm.