Paul went to one of the worst neighborhoods hit by the storm today to help with cleanup. After 8 hours of working in the sun and hauling and lifting things he was pretty bushed but I could see he was touched by the Spirit doing the service.
One thing that really got Paul was how many men and women would come jogging by or walking their dogs up and down the street to look at all the damage but not bother to offer a hand to help. He almost offered one of the lookie loos a pair of gloves but decided against it.
So far there have been 6 confirmed tornadoes from that one storm in 2 counties. 2 counties sounds gianormous* for those of us from the west coast but it's not. (*gianormous is a mixture of giant and enormous put together.) Because of the severe weather in the midwest, the counties are pretty small so they can localize exactly where a storm is. I can drive 15 minutes S-SW to reach another county where the first tornado touched down then drive from my house the opposite direction for 25 minutes and reach where the 6th tornado hit.
I heard a story on the news this morning about a family whose yard and home was hit by the tornado. All 15 trees in their yard were ruined and splintered from the tornado. The only one left is one small tree, a Japanese Maple still standing. This was their daughter Angela's favorite tree.
"Angela died a year ago from suffocation after having an epileptic seizure. She was just 29-years-old. "She was just really down to earth and she would help anybody and everybody." The tree was her favorite color. It was planted in her honor."Even my grandson calls it Angela’s tree. Instead of mommy's tree, he call's it Angela’s tree." "
One thing that really got Paul was how many men and women would come jogging by or walking their dogs up and down the street to look at all the damage but not bother to offer a hand to help. He almost offered one of the lookie loos a pair of gloves but decided against it.
So far there have been 6 confirmed tornadoes from that one storm in 2 counties. 2 counties sounds gianormous* for those of us from the west coast but it's not. (*gianormous is a mixture of giant and enormous put together.) Because of the severe weather in the midwest, the counties are pretty small so they can localize exactly where a storm is. I can drive 15 minutes S-SW to reach another county where the first tornado touched down then drive from my house the opposite direction for 25 minutes and reach where the 6th tornado hit.
I heard a story on the news this morning about a family whose yard and home was hit by the tornado. All 15 trees in their yard were ruined and splintered from the tornado. The only one left is one small tree, a Japanese Maple still standing. This was their daughter Angela's favorite tree.
"Angela died a year ago from suffocation after having an epileptic seizure. She was just 29-years-old. "She was just really down to earth and she would help anybody and everybody." The tree was her favorite color. It was planted in her honor."Even my grandson calls it Angela’s tree. Instead of mommy's tree, he call's it Angela’s tree." "
2 comments:
Wow, the story about the maple tree is one of those tear-jerkers! To have all of those big strong trees be splintered and damaged and then see the little maple still standing.... I bet the family totally cried!!!! Angela's tree made it!
Wow!! Boohoo on the people that didn't stop to help!! I probably wouldn't have been as nice as Paul!! That's why he's MY example and not the other way around! lol
The maple tree story is so touching!! It's just amazing that things like that happen!
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