We Got The Power!

Irma Left and Rainbow Came
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
September 12, 2017

For over a week, we feared what Hurricane Irma could do to Florida. The monster was bigger than the entire state. We knew no one would go untouched by this. Having been through four hurricanes since we moved to Florida, this one was the one I feared the most. 

Food and water ran out. Long lines for gas, if they had any at all. And then we did the best we could to prepare. We boarded up the house, like every time before. We left my husband's sandals on the deck, like every time before because as powerful as Hurricane Charlie was, they did not move. This time we added mine.

We left the rest in God's hands since there was nothing more we could do.

Before Irma

This is where I waited during the beginning of it not knowing what to expect and feeling some fear. This was our 5th hurricane since moving to Florida.

But after it passed, this is what was saw in the sky!

Tree branches down and neighbor lost his fence.

But the rainbow got brighter and grew.

And spread out over my whole area!

And then it started to fade away like the storm itself.

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."

Maybe if all of us think of troubles coming into our lives like Hurricane's doing their damage and moving on, leaving us behind as survivors, we'd be a happier with what we have.

Last night was rough without air conditioning or getting any hope of the power restored, but then I thought about all the people here before we even had all the modern conveniences we have now. No internet service to find out what was going on, they had to listen the radio, much like we did for a couple of days. They had no way of keeping food stocked and safe to eat. Much like we did when we just had to throw away everything in the refrigerator.

Still, while we had the hope of power coming back on and life getting back to normal, they didn't even know what any of this was, yet they managed to survive.

This morning I wanted to jump out of the car and hug Duke Energy workers on the main street near our house as we took a chance on finding something to eat. I felt joy when I saw MacDonald's open and didn't mind waiting in a long line at all. I almost kissed the coffee cup! I felt more joy as we walked down the water isle of Publix and saw they had a couple of cases of water and gallon jugs. Yet, when I saw the traffic signals working again near our house, I flipped out! Hope took over and then as we approached our house, the street was quiet. No generators running and I screamed, "We got the power" and sure enough, it was back on.

All of us have the power to get through whatever is blown our way. Ask for help along the way and be there the next time someone asks you for help. No storm in our lives ever came with an order to go it alone!