Grace Drops
  • Home
  • About
  • Bereavement & Pastoral Care
  • Grace Drops Blog
  • Store
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • New Page
  • Blog
  • New Page

Blossoming in the Storm    by Patty Fitts

11/19/2017

Comments

 
Picture
​​Grace Amidst the Storm
By John C. Fitts
     Monday morning, September 18, the storm had passed leaving behind the lingering effects of strong winds, scattered showers and power outages everywhere. We were fortunate to miss the brunt of the storm, but that did not mean there was not a lot of work to do all week. We would be out of power for five days, as were thousands of others. Everywhere you went there were tall trees blown over by the winds with roots showing. These weren’t just tall, they were also huge in girth. Others were simply snapped in half. Our rather small Dwarf Poinciana tree was bent over and almost level to the ground. Then, in the back, a couple of Birds of Paradise trees had snapped and fallen on the fence and pushed it outward. The back yard was knee high with limbs and debris.
     It took all week to clean up the debris, working a few hours a day in what became a very hot sun. With some help from the family, we had taken most of the fragile garden pots and other decor inside where it filled two rooms. There were many large, expensive items that took more than one person. Anything that didn’t look fragile or in bloom we left outside. There was nothing blooming in the pots under the pergola.
     A week after the storm, we were finishing up the cleaning the debris in the back yard. With backs aching and sweat pouring down, Patty took me over to some pots and plants that were left outside. None were damaged, but one she held up to me captured our attention. It was an orchid, in full bloom. It was left outside because it was not blooming. Not only had it survived the heavy winds and rain and darkness, but it was in full bloom with beautiful blossoms.
     Patty and I looked at it in wonder and thought of the myriads of acts of kindness during the storm. We had seen a video or cars snd trucks all pulling boats on the way to Houston to help with flood victims. On a local internet site scores of people were offering all kinds of help. One man who owned a truck offered to come pick up trash for free. There were others who said if you are hungry come by and eat. Another who had power offered to be a charging station for any phones, iPads, or other devices.
     It was amazing to see all the love and caring during this time of heartbreak and tragedy for so many. We found that people, like the orchid, also blossom during times of crisis.
Comments

    Author

    John Fitts is a retired hospital chaplain and a contributor & publisher of Grace Drops. John lives in Palm Harbor, Florida with his artist wife, Patty. 
    You can receieve Grace Drops in your email each week by signing up here.
    ​

    Sign up for Grace Drops

    Archives

    December 2019
    June 2019
    February 2019
    September 2018
    May 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    March 2016
    October 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Categories

    All
    Adversity
    Anger
    Christmas
    Compassion
    Cooperation
    Death & Dying
    Devotional
    Empathy
    Empowerment
    Encouragement
    Endurance
    Enemies
    Ethics
    Excellence
    Expectations
    Faith
    Family
    Fear
    Forgiveness
    Freedom Vs. Restraint
    Friendship
    Generosity
    Goals
    Grace Drops
    Grace Drops
    Gratitude
    Higher Power
    Higher Power
    Honesty
    Hope
    Humility
    Judgment
    Laughter
    Leadership
    Life Lessons
    Listening
    Live In The Moment
    Love
    Loyalty
    Motivation
    Peace
    Positive Outlook
    Praise
    Prayer
    Responsibility
    Smile
    Struggle
    Success
    Tranquility
    Trust

    RSS Feed

    © This website, the images on the website, and all material found within this site are copyrighted.
    Any copying or reproducing in part or whole, without consent, is strictly prohibited.
     

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.