The Brightness After the Storm

The spectacular storm moved quickly over us last evening. It was a ‘Wow’ moment. The danger that sat just moments over our heads seemed to whiz by. Lightning and thunder were almost together. Yet at the time it laid its furry all over our area. The tremendous heat of earlier in the day was broken and a new cool moved in to refresh us last night. Other than a few places that had their power go off we came clear of it and the sky opened to stars twinkling before bedtime.

I love the storms that come. It is so amazing. I love a storm… that is until it is the kind in life and family. They seem to last forever and never move out. At night the stars don’t seem to twinkle either on a stormy family night.

But even after a stormy family night there is sunshine.

Recently I met with an old friend that had contacted me. Her husband is not doing well and has been moved to the hospital. Then I spoke with her daughter who is now a more mature young adult in her 40s. This young lady thanked me for all the times that I spent looking for her when she was young. She had a tendency to create storms for the family and then run away. The family asked me back then to help find her – which Alida and I did with all the love that we could muster. No sooner did we help solve the problem than she would act out again.

Today she is radiant and bright as a mature adult. What a change has taken place.

This young lady has proven again my other theory – after every storm there is bright sunshine. In fact if you are able to mount the terribly black clouds that are sitting above you family’s head… you will always see sunshine.

This morning I am looking into the face of sunshine. It is brilliant and bright. It is clear and sparkling. It is today – different than yesterday. God made it that way just for me. All the old stuff has gone with the yesterdays… now we have a new start.

Have you noticed how clean every thing is after the storm? All of the bad stuff is washed away with the cleaning that God provides in his storms. Some of the people stuff and people storms seem the same. The bad things fade into fleeting memories and it becomes new.

As my friend sat waiting to hear something of her husband’s condition, she remarked what a blessing her daughter is to her today. She is always there for her – whenever she needs her. Quite the transformations from the old days when the daughter did anything to flee from her mom and dad… wouldn’t you say?

The weather man last night warned us that we may well have another series of storms coming in two days time. That means much more lightning and lots more thunder. Hang on tight.

I can guarantee that life will offer the same as well. The pleasant Sunday afternoon with the grandkids is replaced with anxious moments with family when nothing is right and all is dark. Hang on tight.

God never forgets where you are.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

PS - No I did not take the photos... :-)