Sirens of Peace

Last night I was just drifting off to sleep when I heard an annoying, whining sound.  My husbands phone was alerting him to the existence of nearby tornados.

A few seconds later here comes the wailing of the sirens.  Loud, brazen, rude, drawing me into fear.  My feet felt the fear, becoming heavy, solid blocks.

Years ago I had a nightmare that I was sucked up and blown away by a tornado.  I think I was living in LA at the time, so it was especially poignant.  I've not been the same in storm season since.

Since then I let fear grip me, worrying about my dream coming true.  Having children has not helped alleviate this worry.

I've been told that as long as you can hear the rain, thunder, and wind outside than you're safe from the tornado.  Tornados suck all the weather up into themselves, leaving an unnatural calm. And then you hear the train sound.

There I was, in bed, and outside it was still, eerily calm.  And I began to follow the sirens into fear.  And fear welcomed me, with chilling fingers, gripping my feet.

But Josh wasn't worried.  He was starting to snore.  There was no way he was going to be dragging our children out of bed, into their own closet, at midnight.

"What's the worse that could happen?  We die?  Oh well."

But I prayed anyway.  Prayed that we would be protected, that my flowers would survive, prayed that we would be fine.  I prayed that "angels would surround us, keeping us safe from all harm."

I kept thinking of the verse, "A thousand my fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it  [danger] will not come near you." Ps. 91:7

And when fear would beckon I would remember that verse again.

In my mind I saw our yard, our one little fenced acre, and I saw a silvery force field bubbling up over it, from corner to corner.  A little bubble protecting me and mine.

This may seem foolish to you, that we didn't jump up and pull our boys into a closet, to wait out the sirens, but I had peace, not to mention a sound sleep.

I sit here now, on this cloudy, chilly day after the storm, and remember another verse, "Be anxious for nothing (even a tornado?!?) but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests known unto God, and the peace that passes all understanding, will guide your heart and mind in Christ Jesus."  Phil 4:6

I am so grateful that God wants us to have peace, even in chaos! Now, to learn to implement that in all areas of my life...even my kitchen ;) !