“A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache.” ~ Catherine the Great
Well, so much for imagination, bring on the Tylenol. A great wind really did blow through my neighborhood this past weekend and it didn’t leave much for our imagination. Instead, we ended up with the headache, an expensive one.
We live in the country about six miles out of my hometown. Our home, situated on a couple of acres of what used to be farmland on the rise of a small hill, nestles in a bit of a valley. Sounds tranquil, doesn’t it? It’s not; it’s like living in a wind tunnel!
The wind whips up our little valley and slams into our house with such force sometimes we actually hear it hit our attached garage and whoosh around us. We’ve grown accustomed to Christmas wreaths blowing off our windows and doors, flower pots dancing across the deck floor, patio furniture taking nose dives off the deck and even shingles flapping off the roof.
Friday night a windstorm blustered through and funneled into our valley with ferocious force. It slammed, it banged, it whumped, it thumped. For a minute, we thought we were hearing thunder, continuous thunder. Then we realized the wind was savagely ripping something from our house. Hubby opened up our deck door and a flash of white sailed by – a piece of our vinyl siding!
Hubby climbed out a second-story window onto our front porch roof which gives easier access to the garage roof than climbing up a ladder. He hoped to salvage some of the siding and slide it back in place – in the middle of a windstorm – but to no avail. I felt certain he would be whacked on the head by flying siding and fall off the roof, so I fearfully yelled into the gusty gale for him to come back inside.
By the time the wind huffed and puffed its way out of our area, the upper part of our house (which faces the wind tunnel) was left naked. Slats of siding and broken pieces of white vinyl were strewn hither and yon in both our front and back yard. Portions of our snow fence, which helps keep our driveway from drifting shut with snow, were blown completely off the posts. Not a pretty sight.
American author Mark Twain once said, “Our best built certainties are but sand-houses and subject to damage from any wind of doubt that blows.”
I understand what he meant. Doubt can take down a house built on sand in no time flat. So if you build your house on the sand or even in a wind tunnel, prepare to sustain some damage. You might even get blown away!
That reminds me what Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-27. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his home on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Of course, Jesus was talking about more than houses here. He was talking about putting our faith into practice, about not just being a hearer of God’s Word, but a doer. Any building that expects to stand the test of time better have a strong foundation. It’s the same way for faith – we must build it on the Rock, our Savior Jesus Christ.
It’s Chapter Two, page 22, in my book, Opportunity (2011) and I’m glad to say at our house we have a strong foundation, our faith in God. There is no doubt. We may have flying siding, flapping shingles, blown down fences and our house may be shaken, but we will stand firm in our faith.
©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com
You poor things! It makes me nervous–hearing about him climbing up there. I’m just glad you all are okay! Catherine the Great’s quote is priceless.
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It’s been crazy around here lately, that’s for sure! Two days later we were the lucky recipients of…wait or it… about 8 inches of snow! Time for winter to be OVER! Hubby on the garage roof was nerve-wracking, but not as bad as a couple years ago, when I came home to find him stranded on the house roof!! He had gone up there to replace some shingles that blew off and his extension ladder blew over. He sat on the roof for probably a good 30 minutes until I arrived home. That man is making my hair gray! He still thinks he’s 25 I guess! 😉
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“It’s Chapter Two, page 22, in my book, Opportunity (2011) and I’m glad to say at our house we have a strong foundation, our faith in God. There is no doubt. We may have flying siding, flapping shingles, blown down fences and our house may be shaken, but we will stand firm in our faith.”
On top of all that you are dealing with, another thing. Still praying…
I loved that quote on the top. It describes your family well.
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Thanks for the prayers, Nikki. You know what the old saying, “If it’s not one thing, it’s another.” Fits our family, huh? But we’re okay and our house is still standing, praise God.
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Let expand that comment: The strength of your faith fits who I’ve come to know. In spite of the trials you’ve experienced, you’ve held on tightly to Him, trusting in Him.
By the way, do you get tornadoes?
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God has used so many circumstances to strengthen my faith. Thanks Nikki for your kind words. ♥ Tornadoes? I know all about those – had one lift up into the air and pass over my home when we lived in another state, but here, no – tornadoes are not the norm. Thank goodness.
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“but we will stand firm in our faith.”
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Ouch. That doesn’t look fun.
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It wasn’t! Especially when hubby was standing on the garage roof trying to keep the siding up! 😦
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What a great analogy. Thank you for a beautifully written piece. Everyday!
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Thanks for the compliment, Michelle! Glad you enjoyed my post.
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