I know someday I'll look back on the Great Flood of 2010 and remember how in the early hours of the Friday after Thanksgiving a plumber was summoned when water was discovered spewing from the roof of our store. By the time we arrived for work our ceilings had caved in and our carpets were soaked. There was moisture in our walls four feet high. It was a disaster of epic proportions. At least for me.
I'll remember how the next four days were so emotional as we worked to put our little store back together all while continuing to carry on a business during some of the busiest days of the year. It was exhausting. It was frustrating. And quite frankly I sometimes wondered if it was all worth it. Dealing with disaster recovery services and landlords who seemed to have more important things to deal with than my little problems. Finding yet one more thing that was ruined and adding it to a list that was growing about as fast as my fortitude was waning.
I've always believed that things happen for a reason. (The reason for our flood was a frozen copper water line that hadn't been properly weather proofed. But I'm not talking about that). I'm talking about the good that can come from bad things. Yes, even when there is a flood, there is an ark in the form of friends willing to pick us up and carry us through the storm.
We can dwell on the flood or we can remember the blessing of that ark and the promise of a rainbow. It's our choice.
Just to keep it real here, I admit I had my share of tears. I was angry that my neighbors cooler and air conditioners always leak on MY store and not theirs. I was angry that the cooler lines hadn't been properly wrapped and leaked on my space. I was angry that my vacuum was clogged with wet and crumbled ceiling tiles and my phone lines didn't work and I was totally pissed off at the property manager who wouldn't man up and take responsibility for his pipes and his plumbers screw up.
But as the carpet started to dry and the last of the mess had been sweep away I started shifting my focus from the bad to the blessings. The offers of help from customers, family and friends. The afternoon latte and delicious hot soup brought in by an employee. The beautiful bouquet of roses. I'll always remember the love.
On Wednesday I posted about our ALS quilt and a new wave of love came pouring in. I'm talking about a whole different kind of flood here people.
And then this. Oh my! I hardly feel worthy of the outpouring of love!
As I think back over the past year I am so glad I've shared my sometimes bumpy life's journey with you all because it has brought us all together and allowed us to know a bit more about what makes us tick. You've shared your faith, your love and your own story. You've prayed and bought raffle tickets and supported a little boy who is working through his grief by raising money in his daddy's memory.
You've picked this broken hearted momma up time and time again and carried me. And that, my friend, is what I choose to always remember.
Encourage one another,
