Give Thanks

 

Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

Millions of us in the United States experience the wrath of mega-storm, Fern, which brings freezing rain and snow from Texas to the southeastern states and rages up into the mid-Atlantic states and New England, recreating itself into a classic Nor'easter.  I can't recall a winter event of such magnitude in my lifetime, nor one about which we are warned for days, if not weeks, ahead.

I've lived through enough ice storms here in Georgia to never want to suffer those interminable stretches of being homebound with no power and only a fireplace to heat a home.  So, Danny and I do our level best to prepare for the worst and pray for the best.

Our biggest concern is the potential for ice to build up on pine limbs; since pine is a soft wood, and the needles quickly gain weight under a coating of ice, they are the most vulnerable to breaking off the trees with an ear-splitting report like a gunshot.  It's downright alarming!  Those of you who've lived through ice storms know precisely what I'm describing here.

These are some of the items we gather up from various areas in our house in order to be prepared should our power be adversely affected.  Battery-powered lanterns sit on the hearth along with pairs of hand warmers.

Extra batteries as back up for these and our numerous flashlights.

Danny inflates our air mattress downstairs in case we think the danger of sleeping upstairs becomes too real.

He even digs out some ancient, but useable, sleeping bags that are stored in plastic bins in our garage.

Our phones are charged to the max, backup battery packs have sufficient juice, the laundry is caught up for the week, and best of all, I make our favorite oatmeal-raisin cookies, always a source of comfort.

As we creep toward the edge of Fern's arrival in our area, we see a glimmer of hope.  Our neck of the woods is not predicted to get a branch-busting amount of ice!  We take a deep breath and hope this forecast holds true.  And the next morning?  This is all the "damage" I see.

To top it all off, we don't lose our electricity for one moment!  I am beside myself with joy at my first steaming cup of coffee and the hot shower I'm able to take that morning.  And that gives me pause.  Instead of thanking God for the benefits of having running water, reliable power grids, a warm home, and food to eat, how many of us take such privileges for granted?  We shouldn't.  We should intentionally and humbly give thanks to God each and every day for His more than generous blessings.

That being said, I pray for all who have had to face Fern's fury head on, and who still out of power and warmth as bitter cold seeps into our region.  Please feel free to share your experiences and your prayer requests in the comments.  Know that all of you are in my heart, but most importantly, know you are loved by Our Father as His children and His treasure.

And always remember - give thanks!

Amen!