I used to be absolutely terrified of storms.
When I was very young, maybe five, there was a horrible storm in the little mountain town where we lived. We were at church and we saw a fire in the distance.
The fire was just up the street from our house. I remember the front porch having a couple of inches of water with dead worms floating in it.
Daddy wasn't home.
The roof was leaking everywhere.
It was scary.
Mom had us kneel by the couch and pray.
My dad was up fighting the fire and he came home safely. The people in the house were safe and most of the house was saved.
I assume that's where my terror of storms began.
I remember being outdoors and seeing the dark clouds approaching. I would feel sick to my stomach. Dread would grip my heart.
I always hid under the piano. I felt somewhat protected there and it was close to the door so I could make a speedy escape if lightning struck - as it was bound to do.
When I had my first kid, I realized that I didn't want her to learn that fear from me. So I started pretending that I wasn't afraid. I was still terrified inside, but I did my best not to let it show. No more hiding under furniture or cowering in the corner. (Yes, I did that even after I was married)
Eventually, the fear subsided. I have a friend who always says, "Feelings follow behavior" I think there is a lot of truth to that. Don't feel like you love your husband? ACT like you do.
Anyway, that's fodder for another post. Back to the storms... Yesterday I saw some whirly, swirly, scary looking clouds and my heart beat a little faster. But I reminded myself of what I had read in Job. You know the part where God is telling Job what's what...
God says, "Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go
and say to you, 'Here we are'?" (Job 38:35)The lightning answers to God. God is in control. The wind and the waves listen to Him. He is God of the storms.
Ye storms howl out His greatness; let your thunders roll like drums in the
march of God's armies! Let your lightning write his name in fire on the
midnight darkness; let the illimitable void of space become one mouth for
song; and let the unnavigated ether, through its shoreless depths, bear
through the infinite remote the name of Him whose goodness endureth forever!
--Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Kay, thank you for this reminder that the creation answers to God, the Creator. My post today is about one of my fears and I needed to read yours to help me with my fear. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter used to be extremely afraid of storms...she would sometimes throw up just when she heard thunder or saw lightning. We got through that phase with lots of prayer and TLC. Often during a thunderstorm I would lie in bed with her and sing her the Scott Krippayne song, "Sometimes he calms the storm":
ReplyDeleteSometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn't mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child
She's 21 now, and she still loves that song!
Great blog, Kay. Cindy, thanks for your comment as well.
ReplyDeleteBoy, do I remember looking out from the church and seeing my friend's house on fire! That was a terrible storm. Our yard had lots of earthworms and nightcrawlers and many did come and swim on our porch at that time. Yes, that probably was the source of your fear. I was scared too but tried not to show it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I was always wanting to be outside in the storm! I remember you sitting in the hall and telling people to get off the phone and closing all the curtians. I probably went out to watch the storms just to mock you or something. But I still enjoy a good thunderstorm, jusst from inside and without a house fire.
ReplyDeleteI remember the worms
I was so amazed when I moved to Texas and saw the storms there. The lightning storms were awesome!
ReplyDelete