Thankfulness and survivors guilt rolled into one mixed bag of emotions

 

My midnight musing today is focused on the heartbreaking flood in Texas. There are no words that can truly comfort those who have lost loved ones, especially parents who have lost their children. This tragedy is unimaginable and makes my own story seem insignificant by comparison. Still, I feel compelled to share it. In October 1985, Roanoke, Virginia, experienced a severe flood. The water rushed in so quickly that it took my husband and me an hour to reach our firstborn at nursery school. He was only a little over a mile away, and it should have taken us just five minutes. When we reached our street, the water was rushing by and rising up to our waists.

We exited the car, and my husband lifted our son over his head to prevent the water from carrying him away. I held onto my spouse to avoid being swept away. It was a strange sight to see the street filled with water, resembling a river, yet it did not cross the sidewalk. Later, I watched my neighbors walking past our house in water up to their waists and holding children over their heads. By this time, it had stopped raining and the water was calm. We were thankful to have escaped harm and later learned that two women who lived on the street behind us had died; their small house on the corner was completely covered by the floodwaters. 

All the houses to the left of us on our block suffered water damage, while only our basement sustained any damage. The homes beyond ours remained untouched, and those across the street, located on a hillside, were also safe. I had planned to write about the Flood of '85 as its 40th anniversary approaches, but it feels inappropriate to discuss our fortunate experience while others are facing the devastating loss of life as Texas waters rose 20 feet in just 45 minutes. Amidst these tragedies in Texas, there are, however, stories of survival. I read last night that two young girls, who were presumed dead, had been found in a tree. My prayers and condolences go out to the grieving and those who have lost everything. The loss of human life is the most important concern, but I also grieve for the animals that never had a chance and perished. One thing I've learned from both events is that life can change or end in an instant. I am thankful to the Lord that my family survived, but I am also experiencing survivor's guilt for those who perished and lost children.. It's a mixed bag of emotions.