An Ill Wind That Blows Nobody Good

On Sunday, February 17, I was watching the progress of a dangerous cell containing a tornado that was heading for Prattville when the power went off at 3:15 p.m. I immediately turned on my battery operated radio and learned that the tornado had touched down in our city. The power was restored in about fifteen minutes and the television station began broadcasting details about the location where the tornado had hit. It was in the neighborhood where we first lived when we moved to Prattville in 1983. The tornado was later classified as EF3 with winds about 150 mph. The devastation was great with some 800 homes damaged, with at least 30 homes completely destroyed. Some 50 businesses were damaged. Scores of people were injured but there were no fatalities. That within itself is amazing when you consider the damage done to the various homes and buildings.

On Tuesday I began working in one house that would be declared a total loss. This modest house was the home of a saintly Christian lady who had died in December of 2007. Her daughter was living in the house when the tornado hit. Fortunately, she was at the home of a Christian friend having lunch. I especially wanted to work in this house that once was the home of a dear Christian friend of ours, sister Lois Gipson. She was one of sweetest persons I have ever known. She was known and greatly loved for her kind and gentle ways and for her thinking of others with gifts she had made with her hands. As I worked with other Christians, I found many personal items that had been tossed about by the strong winds. As I would find an item she had made or pictures of the family I would give them to her daughter Martha. These were items that insurance could not replace. The roof had been torn off of about half of the house but we were able to save much of the furniture, clothing, personal items, etc.

It was an emotional thing to pick up something that was very personal and think that this was something that was greatly cherished by this Christian lady. While I, along with others, was helping her son and daughter to remove everything that was not ruined by the wind and rain, I thought within myself that there were so many families all around the area who were going through their possessions and trying to save what they could. I saw a family looking through the debris in the house back of us doing this very thing. I expressed my concern to them and simply said that “I am so sorry and that I was praying for them.” They in turn expressed their gratitude that others cared and were praying for them. The destruction I saw was just overwhelming.

It is indeed heartwarming when you see so many people working feverishly to do what they can to aid the victims of the tornado’s destructive power. It is in times like these that the best in people is manifested. I want to applaud members of the church locally and from other areas who were/are doing what they can to alleviate the suffering of so many. Doors of opportunity will be opened for brethren to encourage individuals to know more of Jesus Christ and His kingdom. Prejudice will be lessened as brethren manifest their love by their kind and thoughtful deeds. How wonderful to live in a community of caring people.

One of the last things I saw before leaving this house that was demolished was a small mirror on a bathroom door with this inscription underneath it: “THIS PERSON IS NOT TO BE TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY”. This brought a smile to my face because I knew of the humor of the lady who had lived in this house. In spite of the difficulties in life we should always remember to “Smile because God loves you”.