Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Significant

We had a new kind of Memorial Weekend this year. If you were reading this blog last May, you might remember the ginormous tornado that went through part of tiny town the day before Memorial day.


Last year we spent the day picking through what little remained of our friends home. I remember feeling like I was in the middle of a bad dream... that surely I'd wake up any moment and find everything back to the way it should be. Instead, I woke up to this.
This is our friends house today. They moved back in a week ago. It's beautiful and even better than before! I took this picture from here:
This is the cemetery that was leveled during the tornado (Ben is in the suit:) Headstones were knocked over and all the big pine trees...gone. Since last year, new trees have been planted and the cemetery restored. It was an experience I can't put into words...standing there this year, remembering those who've given their lives for our country, so that I have the freedoms that I enjoy, and at the same time take for granted...I am so thankful for their sacrifice and for the country that God has placed my family.

He is so faithful. Tiny town is being restored. Despite a tornado and massive flooding, this little town, that many view as insignificant is moving forward...growing stronger. Because God views it as significant. The lives of the people here are significant to Him. I am thankful for a God that doesn't need the high and mighty, but shows Himself powerful through the seemingly insignificant.

It's interesting how after we've talked about life-devastating events for so long we can talk about them with little emotional reaction. I see it all the time. People mention, in passing, circumstances that at the time rocked them to the core...disasters, loss of loved ones, betrayal, sickness.


During the trauma we can barely think of it without the pain overwhelming us. But as time goes on, and healing begins, we begin to talk about it as though we're now removed from it a little bit. Yet, when we allow ourselves to really go back there...really remember it, the emotions tend to come back.


Yesterday was a day to remember. And the emotions came back...but now, instead of just hurt and loss, there is hope and progress and healing.


Sometimes, we need to be completely weakened in order to become stronger. It's not how we like it to be done...but often it's true.


Today we are stronger.

19 comments:

  1. Almost started crying.
    Beautifully written!

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  2. Sarah,what a beautiful post.so well written.Hope you have a blessed day! Love Faye

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  3. Glad everything is coming back together! I knew it would!

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  4. I wasn't reading at this time last year because I wasn't on blogger, but this post brought me to tears. I guess living right in the smack-dab middle of all the Katrina devastation has given me a soft spot for other natural disaster areas. A tornado and flooding... wow. Love the point you made about how EVERYONE is important to Him and not forgotten.

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  5. Hmmm...very good post...I heard on the radio about the tornado anniversary...and can't believe a year has past. Seems only yesterday we prayed for our fellow workers in the harvest, shepherds and their flocks and all the community. Hope is strong...and it's visible through Tiny Town. ;)

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  6. Gave me chills...

    You wrote this so well. It's awesome to hear of the rebuilding.

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  7. Your blog has always drawn me, and now I know why. Your tiny town and my town were both ravaged by a tornado in the last year. It definitely gives your world and perspective a shaking up! And in some ways, I hope we never see the world the same again!

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  8. Nope, I will never forget the tornados that came through last year. We knew people that lost more then their home. I remember sitting in our basement, sirens going and praying JUST praying for it to be nothing more then some trees and a couple garages. I'll never forget.

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  9. Wow! What a story. Thank God for his healing of 'tiny town'.

    -FringeGirl

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  10. Sarah, this was beautifully written. God is SO faithful and in Him we find strength even in tragedy. Giving thanks that Tiny Town is healing!!!

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  11. This was a great POST! Thanks so much for that! I am so thankful for Tiny Town receiving some healing!

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  12. What a beautiful post and the last sentence just sums it all up perfectly.

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  13. Glad things are better, friend. It's good to be back in touch!

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  14. YES. Those times of weakness really do change us, making us see things in a way we never would have.

    Great post, lady.

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  15. Wow! I bet you cried all day!! What a great celebration. My mother in law works in tiny town and talked about everything going on and Al and his dad helped after the tornado....

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  16. Sometimes, we need to be completely weakened in order to become stronger. It's not how we like it to be done...but often it's true.


    SO TRUE! GLAD TO HEAR OF THE REBUILDING.

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