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The everlasting God is your place of safety and His arms will hold you up forever.
Deut. 33:27 NCV

It blasted in from the West quickly. The warning sirens blared, and within minutes the power went out, the sky became dark, and my house was pelted with torrential rain driven by seventy-five mph winds.

And I was alone.

I watched helplessly as a tree limb fell a few feet away from the house, damaging part of the garage gutter; I heard “things” hitting the roof and blowing around outside; puddles of water gathered in the back yard and a mini river form in the street.

I wish I could tell you that I handled it well – that I remained calm and collected relying on my strong faith to get me through…… Yes, I wish I could say that ……. Instead, I anxiously paced from one room to another, checking each window trying to determine any further damage and wondering when it would stop.

After twenty minutes that seemed so much longer, it finally settled enough for me to go outside and do a quick look around. There was a twenty foot tree limb in my backyard and a large hole in the gutter. The rest of my yard was littered with smaller limbs. The neighborhood was a mess with limbs down and trash cans scattered about the street.

Shaken and fretting about how I would tend to the damage and mess, I came inside and, standing in the middle of my living room, said out loud,

“God, I need a hug!”

After a brief break, heavy rain started again and now, without power, there was danger of my basement flooding because the sump pump could not run without electricity.

Discouraged and spent, I headed for my recliner, knowing I could do nothing but wait for the power to return. As soon as I sat down, my cat jumped up in my lap, curled up and went to sleep! I looked at her and thought, “I wish I had a lap to curl up in right now!”. And that’s when I sensed God speak – “You do, child. I am here. My everlasting arms are always here for you.”

I realized then the truth of His Word:

     He protects the widow’s property. (Proverbs 15:25)

     He keeps me from all harm and watches over my life. (Psalms 121:7-8)

     As a mother comforts her child, He will comfort me. (Isaiah 66:13)

His arms were holding me throughout that storm – hugging me tight!

The hugs continued:

     Others called to check on me.

     The temperature cooled down so I was okay without the A/C.

     Power returned after only six hours.

     The yard man cut the twenty ft. tree limb into pieces the next day.

     Our city did free tree limb removal.

     There was minimal dampness in one small area downstairs.

     A dear former neighbor fixed the garage gutter.

     Total cost to me for all $10.00.

Now, only days later I stand humbly in awe of the Lord’s protection over me. I have seen the damage within walking distance from this widow’s house on the corner. Trees have fallen on houses. Roofs have been damaged. Gutter systems have been ripped off. Some have just gotten power restored. The local news carried pictures of power poles on vehicles and sadly it was not an “average” storm.

I have come to realize that in the absence of physical hugs from my husband, my awesome God sends me His own form of “hugs” every day –

I simply need to learn how to recognize them.

Dear Father: Thank You for being my “lap” during the storm even though I did not immediately recognize it. Help me see and be aware on a daily basis of the “hugs” You send showing me Your love. Amen