Wednesday, May 25, 2011

So thankful I have Hope....

I don't know about you, but I have just been heart broken over the pictures and video coming out of the Joplin tornado.  One story just about did me in....a boy being driven home from his HS graduation by his dad was sucked out of his car through the moon roof...they still have not found him as far as I know.  I am praying for his family.

And I'm also sobered a bit by how close it came to my son.....he is just 50 miles from Joplin.

As more tornadoes were headed toward that area last night, I was getting pretty anxious.  I mean reality is that my son is 19 and a BOY...all instincts tell them to go to the ROOF not shelter when a major storm is coming.....seriously.

But what I realized....anew....is that I am so thankful for the hope I have in Christ!!!

I can't control the weather.
I can't control whether my son takes shelter or not.
I can't control whether the house is sturdy enough.
I can't control the direction the tornado takes.
I can't even control my own anxieties!!

Thank goodness I don't have to.
Thank goodness my Hope lies in One that is bigger than all that.
And that I know He cares for my loved ones even more than I do.

But I am most thankful today that each of my children has a relationship with Christ and are following Him.  That each one has reached out and accepted the free gift that Christ offers us all. And with that knowledge, I have Hope that no matter what happens...they are ultimately taken care of!!!

And that.....is what allowed me to go to sleep last night.
.....plus a lot of prayer.



13 comments:

Penny said...

If we could just focus on the fact that it's actually a GOOD thing that we can't control everything and that God can do everything so much better than us, I think a lot of our anxieties would vanish. =) Good points in this post!!

Willys and Elizabeth (Lizzie) said...

Amen! Well put!

Cathy said...

There is great peace and comfort in knowing that God is in control.

LuAnn said...

Amen, Amen - Praise God for their faith and yours as the example to your children.

Skoots1moM said...

when that supercell plowed its way a block away from my daughter, my heart was in my throat...we are still finding out more about the tuscaloosa losses. We've had many discussions about prayers during those tragic times and how God's plan is to prosper us but if it is our time to go, He will be with us ALWAYS...you are so right, His wonderful Hope sustains us :)

The Sneaky Mommy said...

What a blessing that your children all know Christ! I feel like we're in the "propeller spinning" years of teaching Jesus and pray that their "propeller's of faith" take off on their own soon! Thankful that your son is safe! So much to pray for with the people of Joplin!
**Thanks for your awesome example of being a praying mom who's trusting and resting in Christ!**

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

Wise words dear Sara. Storms continue tonight. LOTS of prayer.

StephieAnne said...

So well said, Sara. I'm thankful to hear that you and your family are all safe and accounted for....but, oh the tragedy. We'll be continuing to pray!

Jamie said...

Oh Sara, the news is heart breaking! Such wise words here. I'm praying for your family and all those affected by the storms.

RaD said...

A friend's daughter attends college at the PC of G Messenger College there in Joplin. Thankfully she came home Friday and missed the big storm. Her mom says it would have been likely that she would have been out in it since she is one of the few college students with a car. So we were all very grateful to know she was home safe and sound.
But wow. I can't begin to imagine what you are dealing with. It's one of those times when you have to choose to trust, knowing you are not in control of the end result. So hard, yet so simple at the same time.

STILLMAGNOLIA said...

After the 27th of April...I do not take weather for granted...and am really nervous about tornadic activity. My heart bleeds for Joplin and Norman OK right now...am praying for them all.

Rachel said...

Oh Sara - my heart hurts. Praying that that boy in the tornado knew Jesus personally too.

Thankful that your children do - what a peace!

Kim said...

I agree, seeing the videos and photos has been sobering. Even before I'd learned of the tornado, I found out my aunt and uncle who live in Joplin had come through the storm just fine (the power of facebook strikes again!). It was a huge relief to know that after seeing the news reports!