I am participating in my ninth Slice of Life Story Challenge run by the team behind the Two Writing Teachers website. We are challenged to write a blog post a day throughout the month of March.
My father left a message on our phone last night, before either of us got home, to let us know they were safe from this last round of tornadoes.
I immediately felt guilty; I have been so exhausted this week that I've barely paid attention to the news, and didn't focus on weather outside of Texas. Sometimes I'll catch it in posts on social media, but I've curtailed most of my scrolling for Lent.
I also work very, very hard not to worry about things that aren't in my control. Weather is one of those things. I can control my response to it, and have to believe that my loved ones are capable enough to listen to their local weather, prepare accordingly, and contact us (if they can). When posting my blog on Facebook yesterday morning, I noticed my father had commented on other posts, so my inner alarms didn't go off.
If I was the worrying type, this is what would occupy my mind all through spring and summer:
Tornadoes in North Texas, Alabama, Tennessee
Hurricanes in the Florida Panhandle
Earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan
That is mighty disastrous thinking. And I have no control over any of it...but maybe I do need to pay attention to the whole weather segment for the next few months, just to be prepared.
I appreciate so much your line (and sentiment): I also work very, very hard not to worry about things that aren't in my control.
ReplyDeleteI'll be thinking about this all day.
We can control our responses...
XOX
The way you shared about your dad's call showed well how unaware you were. Then the guilt and justification is explained. Good advise - don't worry about what you have no control over.
ReplyDeleteIt's Ok Chris. We weren't sure what you may have heard or not heard about our severe weather so I thought I'd bring you up to date. Most of the tornados were south of Birmingham which is 75 miles south of here. They did a lot of damage. Here we had a flooded back yard, and periods of high wind. We were under a "Tornado Watch". We are glad it is over. Weather reporting up here is a challenge. During their coverage yesterday the man says, "See the dark hole in that cloud, that's a tornado yet to touch the ground." It wasn't long before it did. Ya'll have a great day. Love Ya, Dad.
ReplyDeleteTim Gels also posted about the southern tornadoes today. I feel for both of you. I cannot imagine how hard (and scary) it is to live with this threat!
ReplyDeleteStay safe, Chris!
Last Thursday here in my section of NC was made asynchronous/remote learning day, due to threat of tornadoes. March kicks off the official season. Turned out to be a nearly-windless day... we did have a tornado during Bible school one year and while it cut a path through the graveyard, knocking stones over, we were all safe in our huddle inside the church. The most magnificent double rainbow appeared overhead, afterward, as we went outside to assess damage. You are right - it does us no good to worry about a thing so beyond our control as weather. But the people... well. We trust and then we still try to protect, somehow. Which is what your dad was doing for YOU with those messages.
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