INSPIRASUNS

Yesterday was a busy day. I first want to thank our server at the local IHOP. We stopped there first thing to grab a quick breakfast before heading off to help at our church. This woman, our server I mean, was simply awesome. She was so attentive, so happy, and so cheerful to every single person who came in! Actually, everyone in the place, customers, servers, line cooks, everyone was upbeat, saying thank you, have a nice day, be safe. God’s Children at work!

Before I headed to our church to help with clean-up, I did some volunteer coordinating with our local group the Marco Patriots. You can read more about them in one of my earlier little blogs here. Anyway, I’ve had the honor of working with them this past week, and the last few days have assisted building a list of volunteers. Yesterday morning we got a message from a woman who works with the SWFL Tech College. “We have 15 football players who are available to help, please tell us what we can do,” I asked if they could help on the Isle of Capri where there are some senior citizens who have major damage in their homes. The players and their coach showed up and spent the afternoon helping the residents. And…I got a message late last night from Rebecca, “I’m so glad you reached out! It worked out well today and the team is going back to help tomorrow!” God’s Children at work!

As I made my way to church yesterday I was not prepared for what I would see. The closer I got to the church, (which sits across the street from a beautiful cove) the worse it got. It literally looked like a war zone. People had begun to put things out, furniture, boxes, etc. The mud, muck, sand, trees, etc., it’s everywhere.

Our church, we had to empty it. It had water, probably 4′ high. The altar was spared and now sits in our great hall where services will be held for the foreseeable future. We all came together to help. To-do lists were made based on the various areas, and people just started doing! There is a lot to be done, don’t get me wrong, but I guess it didn’t seem like “work” to me. We did ALOT yesterday, and God was in our midst. As people showed up, we hugged knowing that everyone was ok and safe. We’ve all lost something but we are all still here! That’s what is important. We just moved from one task to the next, washing, polishing, boxing, storing, etc. God’s Children at work!

I made my way back home at the end of the day, (again, still in awe of what I passed), and after a shower and some clean clothes, hubs and I went to our little community Italian restaurant for dinner. We needed a break and we wanted to support our local businesses. The place was packed! We got a table and noticed kids helping around the place. One of our favorite servers came by and we asked about the kids. To which she replied, “Well none of us have power, we’re up in Lee County, (Ft Meyers area), so we brought them here. They are doing some little things like delivering water to tables to keep busy.” Think about this… These families have absolutely no idea when they will have power, (most of their power stations were under salt water), and they have no idea when their kids can go back to school. They have their kids with them where it’s cool, and they are involved and they are together, and the kids were smiling and happy. God’s Children at work!

God was with us in so many ways yesterday. I continue to be in awe of Father at work. It’s happening, God’s children helping each other. Through the worst of Ian, we have come together.

I know simply, we will help each other, we will rebuild, we will overcome. I truly believe that Father has given us to each other to make this a better place. God is at work. Lean in friends, God will never forsake us, and we should never give up on each other.

Thanks to all of you. Your text messages, (still a little sketchy on the cell service), your Facebook messages, your calls, emails, etc., have been amazing. I’m truly blessed, and am humbled by your outpouring of love.

I simply ask that you continue to pray for our Sunshine State. I’m only sharing a small piece of the destruction, the rest of the state has its own stories. Our entire state needs your prayers. Thanks so much for being with me on this journey this last week. And…thanks for letting me use this little blog as an outlet to share my feelings and experiences 🙂

Thank you Father for your gift of love, and for the connection of your children. Father let us come together and help each other so at the end of each day you may look down and say, “These are my Children, with whom I am well pleased”.

1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.