Last week, two things happened I consider profound. One, my mother gave her testimony at church while I beamed like the proud parent. Second, bad weather happened in North Carolina at a Lowe’s store and amazingly everyone survived with no major injuries. I told my girlfriend as we discussed, if it was me I probably would still be shouting. At the time, I had no idea, how true my words would become a few days later…
I felt led to attend Good Friday service that evening at church. I asked a couple friends and my mother, all had other engagements and were unable to attend. Just when I made up in my mind I was attending by myself, I asked my sister if my nine month old niece could go with me. Expecting her to say no, she surprised me and said yes. I was elated and that's all I could think about during the day, my niece whom I call Lil Bit was going to church with me.
The morning at work went by like a blur and the afternoon went even faster. I told everyone I could think of, Lil Bit was going to church with me… Evening finally arrived. After watching her mother pack her bag and recheck it, we left for service. My niece cried at the top of her lungs, to avoid going to sleep on the way there. While driving I sang at the top of my lungs to get her to calm down, eventually I didn’t hear her crying anymore. Instead I was greeted by her soft breaths of sleep. I noticed the sky was turning gray and my main thought was to get to church before the rain came. We made it before the rain began, I grabbed her and her bag and ran for the door. I settled us into our seat while she was slumbering in my arms.
The service began and it was beautiful. Lil Bit awoke after the first song and sat on my lap, looking around the sanctuary. We sang and in between songs the pastor delivered his message. More than halfway through, the lights flickered on and off. At first, I thought it was a part of the service. A few moments later, the security team announced there was a tornado passing and to get on the floor and take cover under the pews. I did as I was told holding my niece in my arms, still not understanding what was happening outside. Storms happen all the time, but tornadoes hardly ever touchdown in my neck of the woods, this is the thought going through my mind at the time. While sitting on the floor seeking cover, we took communion. We continued to sing praise and worship songs and asked to stay a while longer. During this time we’re informed the tornado has moved past us.
A thought hit me, if we are being told about a tornado…my family is watching this on television. I text my sister to let her know we are ok, she responds to inform me a tornado had been spotted and touched down in Westport. Westport isn’t very far from where we are attending service. I ask her to tell our mother we’re ok, she lets me know she already has. I continue to hold my niece singing and praising the Lord. After waiting for about 30 minutes I decided to head home, I had already been warned the highways near were closed and at a standstill because of the storm. (Note: My mother taught her children as young as I remember; to always know more than one way to get home. You never know when you have to take an alternate route home.) My mind is spinning of the alternate routes I can take, with my plan in mind I load my niece in the backseat once again and I proceed in blackness.
The first alternate route I tried, I see a line of red taillights. I turn around and try another route, and was greeted by the police who was directing traffic away from the area. I can see the highways are at a standstill and my tears begin to flow. By this time my niece is screaming at the top of her lungs and my joy is quickly fading; however, I’m still singing at the top of my lungs trying to get her to calm down. Not because she’s crying, that’s the only way she knows how to communicate, it’s because I’m not sure if I can get us home.
My phone is constantly ringing, from either my mother or my sister calling to check on us. I tell my mother, I’m heading back to church and if I have to park in the parking lot to calm her, then that’s what I’ll do. On the way back, I began to say Jesus, repeatedly which helped calm my spirit. It was then I felt led to try another route I wasn’t very familiar with. My niece is finally sleep and no longer crying at the top of her lungs. I’m still seeing nothing but blackness, a sea of red taillights and lights of emergency vehicles. I drive in the direction away from this, when over the hill I see the lights of a casino. I immediately call my mother and tell her where we were, she calmly tells me how to get home. I’ll never look at that casino the same again, for that night; it helped me in more ways than one.
My phone is constantly ringing, from either my mother or my sister calling to check on us. I tell my mother, I’m heading back to church and if I have to park in the parking lot to calm her, then that’s what I’ll do. On the way back, I began to say Jesus, repeatedly which helped calm my spirit. It was then I felt led to try another route I wasn’t very familiar with. My niece is finally sleep and no longer crying at the top of her lungs. I’m still seeing nothing but blackness, a sea of red taillights and lights of emergency vehicles. I drive in the direction away from this, when over the hill I see the lights of a casino. I immediately call my mother and tell her where we were, she calmly tells me how to get home. I’ll never look at that casino the same again, for that night; it helped me in more ways than one.
I called my mother and told her I had to see her before I went to my sister’s for the night. In the midst of all this, I’ve been told my home has no power, which meant I needed to stay someplace else. My mother is waiting for me and is standing on the porch. When I saw her standing there, my tears began to flow all over again and she held me. She reminded me how blessed I was, and because of his protection we were spared. After our moment, I left for my sister’s. She meets us at the car and told me something, which made me feel better. She knew her baby was safe and in good hands being with me.
Sincerely,
DWIC2S
