I don’t think there is a single lesson that can prepare someone for natural disaster.
Do you?
As a mom when crisis occurs there is this very automatic place one goes that has us be resourceful, brave, tireless and courageous. I have been there.
Hurricanes however have me feel helpless.
How about you?
Two weeks ago a business colleague had a biopsy on her leg, she mentioned cancer and surgery. My heart went in a panic and I thought to myself please don’t let her see me loose it. In the weeks to follow I found the best way for me to help was to be the voice of care. I let folks know when meals on wheels were needed and coordinated as best I could. When I visited her, I had to be brave as I felt all jiggly inside. Last thing she needed was to have to offer me support instead.
Devastating illness has me feel helpless.
How about you?
A few yrs ago my uncle died. I was so remarkably sad about the news that I started to cry. My aunt said I can’t take this right now. How could I not be there for her when she needed me?
I feel like perhaps I am not good at this crisis stuff.
What about you ?
A remarkable friend of mine lost her husband suddenly. Her grief had her retreat on a mission trip to a place of extreme poverty. Out of that she found a way to help, a way to bring food to starving children in Haiti, the What If Foundation was born. 8 years ago it began as a weekly program feeding 500 kids, it became a program that fed 1000 children daily and more. In the recent wake of the hurricane there they are doing their best to feed more with less. I thought to myself what is it I can possible do?
A few weeks ago she began touring with her book she wrote – On That Day Everybody Ate – One Woman’s Story of Hope and Possibility in Haiti. Prior to her tour a loving hand signed copy of her book found it’s way to my mailbox. The story had me weep.
I do not know this level of poverty or this world of hatred.
There are many cause organizations out there. This is one I give to. I do so because I know the monies I give actually feeds someone. I know that all of it goes to the cause. Every penny
I can’t give very much but when I can I do
I also know that I CAN tell and I CAN share
Last week a woman contacted me through my blog, she has been helping children and parents understand how they learn for the last 30 years. She just survived the devastation of Hurricane Ike in Texas. This weekend knowing it was coming, knowing the home she was visiting was being boarded up, I couldn’t get her out of my mind… Sure it rained here for 4 days straight and we had local flooding and sure I sit on the second floor of my home – safe. How was she?
She called today and shared the devastation. As a Californian, she had no idea how to prepare for a hurricane. Her brother in law, a life time resident took the warnings casually. We never get hit here. Their area got hit hard.
Did you know that if you duct tape the windows that when the break they break differently? Did you know that if you fill the tub with water that will help you flush the toilet. What do you do when the water in the tub runs out? How long can a dozen of eggs last? People are stealing gasoline out of people’s cars. Millions of people have no electricity and may not for weeks. What does 100 MPH winds look like — let alone feel like. What when the lightening strikes does it turn the sky an aqua blue? I was astounded by the things she shared.
Again I felt absolutely helpless.
She wrote a post on her blog Raising Smarter Children about 10 Things Children Learn From Tragedy. I admire that out of all of this she is finding a way to say how can we find the good.
What do these tragedies teach us?
She asked me to share.
I can do that.
Please get the word out…our state of Texas needs us.
pre hurricane wave flickr image credit
Karen Hanrahan ~ Wellness Educator/Nutritional Consultant/Blog Author
708.482.0678 ~ Websites: Nutrition, Weight Loss, and Green Clean