My son, only 3 at the time, peered out the storm door as dark clouds approached from the west. Welcome to springtime in Tornado Alley. I had just cleaned the door and didn't want to clean it again. "Don't even think about touching that window and getting your fingerprints on it," I told him.
He turned to look at me, grinned, and then turned, deliberately putting both his hands flat on the storm door. The moment he touched it, it happened.
The storm sirens blew, and we heard a loud thunderclap at the same moment. Our closest storm siren is essentially in our backyard, so we all hear it, every single time. The moment the siren began to shrill, Nick jerked his hands backed and ran straight to my lap. He thought he made the sirens begin. Then a spring thunderstorm, complete with strong winds, thunder, and lightning began. The boy didn't move for half an hour.
He never touched the storm door again.
We've seen strong storms but have never been devastated by them personally. However, five years ago, our home was heavily damaged by a fire. The kids lost almost all of their toys, except for a few stuffed animals that could be washed and salvaged.
November before last, a tornado destroyed hundreds of homes and killed 22 people in our town. When we drive through the areas where the tornado hit, the kids see the path of destruction and take note. The kids remember how hard it was for us to rebuild; the fire was their watershed, and their lives are measured in B.F. (before fire) and A.F. (after fire) time.
For those of us who've lived our lives in Tornado Alley, the recent disaster was a reality check to pay more heed to those warning sirens. When I hear them scream in the dark of night, I no longer roll over, listen for the wind, and go back to sleep. Instead, I turn on the news to learn the cause of the siren.
Last week, we made our way to our basement during a tornado warning. Once we got down the stairs, I noticed what the children grabbed. Our daughter had her cat. Nick, however, had moved two of his stuffed animals that he had B.F. He was sitting with his storm supplies and a toy light saber around him.
Nick confidently told me, "I've got my light," as he swung his battery-operated light saber across the room. Then he pointed, "And I've got my bank [his piggy bank which isn't that full] and my Bible. I'm ready for anything." In six short years, he's grown from the young toddler who thought his handprints made the sirens scream and the skies to storm into a boy planning to care for himself and his most treasured possessions.
For a brief moment, I saw the brave heart of a young boy, ready to follow examples of Peter and Edmund from Narnia, to fight and provide for those he loves. With his combination light/weapon, money, and Word of God, he was ready for anything that might happen next.
If we all walk into our battles and challenges with what we have, our light and weapons, whatever material possessions we have — be they mighty or few — and the Word, we can handle whatever happens to us.
Do you face Fast Times in Tornado Alley? Take heart — often the things we view as fast times in our lives are really the trimming and pruning of a Master Gardener caring for His vineyard in ways we cannot fathom. Grab your weapons, and you, too, will be ready for anything!
