We Have Power!
True story about being 'snowbound', how to cope AND more importantly-witnessing a few miracles! We were expecting 2-4 inches of snow Sunday. We GOT 8 or MORE inches which is very much a 'big deal' in the rural southeast. The power was out all night-I bundled up and slept. At 7:30 the next morning I awoke to a freezing house (temp of 35+ degrees*)-and called the power company. I was told they would 'make a report' but had 'thousands with power out'. I called around-and some neighbors had no phone-so I couldn't tell who was home or had power. By noon-I finally called a neighbors cell-who told me his power was also out-and he'd gladly get me to a shelter or hotel. He didn't have any issue with driving in the snow. All morning there had been NO traffic even creep by my home. I didn't know what 'shelters' were open-so opted for a warm room. I called a hotel closeby-and booked a room. Then I gathered as much clothing and things I could find-and knew I was pushing time-as I have heart issues; so getting warm quickly was a must.
My neighbor drove up-I climbed into his vehicle and we took off. He told me they had a small fire going-but it was all they could do to even stay warm-but his family elsewhere had offered lodging to them. We stopped and grabbed a burger and I had thrown a can of soup into my bag. This would suffice as food-and I was really hungry. I just realized I had not eaten since Sunday at noon. I was really was tired, cold and very hungry. The hotel turned out to be clean with a microwave and small fridge-so I ate, showered and laid down and tried to call some relatives-reaching one who was also leaving her home to stay with her kids. I finally gave into sleep late in the evening-after warm soup watching tv. I awoke early and at 9 a.m. I anxiously called the power company to see when power was supposed to be restored. They didn't know-'nothing'-and told me "M'am you may wish to remain where you are." I hung up tried to reach neighbors, relatives-and could not get a single person I even knew! Normally our power outages get restored rather quickly-but I knew by glancing outside at the heavy piles of snow-this wasn't 'the norm' for our area in the south. I began to pray this would 'change' no matter what they 'said'! I called downstairs and asked for some extra 'time' for the room and the manager knowing the situation said 'fine-1 PM'.
What in the heck was I supposed to DO!? I had very little money on me--NO more food and would have run up a credit card to do this again another night!??? You never know what the 'simple things' such as 'power and heat' mean UNTIL you don't have them-AND you find yourself alone feeling helpless. I peered down the hallway and saw housekeepers pushing carts-laughing and going about their routine. One asked about cleaning my room-and I asked her to wait-and we began talking. She too was 'stuck' but staying at the hotel. I begin to 'let out' my own story-and she offered to bring me a meal she had frozen to eat. I gladly accepted her offer! Later another housekeeper stopped by-she must have overheard us talking-and offered to get me to nearby store if I needed anything as she was staying beside my room for the day! I thanked her and told her I would let her know. Within a few minutes she'd snuck up leftover breakfast items--and smiling closed the door whispering " You never saw this". I smiled and we both laughed as she closed the door. I gulped down 5 donuts and hot coffee. The day seemed go by quickly-and soon I got a call from my neighbor around 1:00--"Guess what-WE HAVE POWER!"
I laughed, I cried and I thanked the angels above and SPIRIT! His words rang in my head as I quickly got my things together. Those were the most awesome words and proved to me that every single WORD I have tried to tell others about how things DO come to us we need, how even ANGELS bring things to us DAILY-how TRUE these three words were-"WE HAVE POWER!"
I began to try to find the housekeepers--even knocked on doors--and I never DID find even ONE person that had brought 'things to me'-or even SPOKEN TO ME! Angels sometimes have been 'said to appear in disguise'? I checked out-saw my neighbor outside smiling--and walked out knowing one thing...
There truly ARE blessings to be found in the very WORST "STORMS OF LIFE"--especially when we least EXPECT them. Don't allow any fears or doubt to stop you from believing for ANYTHING!
This is dedicated to everyone with whom I can truly 'empathize with' about being snowbound or feeling helpless in ANY given situation. EXPECT a blessing OR a miracle--believe for it--and shout I HAVE "POWER" over my situation and life. THEN sit back and believe for whatever you 'need'!