Eleven days ago, my cousin and her family set out from Bloomington, Ill. to Miami, Fl. They had been caring for a two year old little Haitian girl, while her grandfather was gravely ill in a hospital in Miami. Unfortunately for those who knew and loved him, he passed on. Shelly and Mike knew they were called to safely deliver this little girl to her family in time for the funeral. Driving her seemed to be the only option. Trying to get ahead of Storm Thor, they left Wednesday after work.
The plan was for them to overnight here in Tennessee Thursday evening on the way and then Monday on their way home. On the way, those plans never became a reality. You see, Thor blew in and laid snow and ice in their path, lots of it. I received a text that they were stopping for the night in southern Illinois. The weather was getting really nasty. Thursday morning they were greeted with the news that Interstate 24 was closed in Ky. due to 3 jackknifed tractor trailers and hundreds of stranded vehicles. At noon they were told the road would be open. Waiting patiently, they began their journey on ice laid roads spending over nine hours on the highway in Kentucky going literally nowhere. Keeping in constant communication with them all day and night, I felt like I was trapped in the car with them. I could feel their frustration as they tried to do what God intended for them to do yet not understanding the "roadblocks" along the way. At 8:52 PM they crossed the Tennessee line. The road was clear. Hallelujah. We decided they should pull off for the night near Nashville and get an early start in the morning. But the roads in Tn. turned ugly and yet again they were inching their way to safety. At 11:21 PM they were finally able to pull off in Nashville.
Friday morning - Yet another delay. Roads were bad to Chattanooga. Waiting till 10:00 AM to leave, here is Shelly's text " If we left now we would only be stuck in traffic and this will give us a better chance I hope. So frustrating that we left 2 days ago and are only 6 hours from home.lol"
THE WHY OF IT ALL.....At 12:10 PM Eastern time, this is her text. "Just got to Chattanooga and got a call from our friend who asked if we were anywhere close to Atlanta. His wife and daughter missed their flight to Miami for the same funeral and they are at the Atlanta airport. THAT IS WHY WE GOT STUCK IN THE STORM! God knew it wasn't about us!! We are on our way to the airport to pick them up. God is so sovereign."
I can think of no greater honor then to be used to answer someones prayers.
Shelly - "Isn't it cool when God lets you see the why?"
They were trying so hard to obey God every step of the way. Just because we obey, doesn't mean it will be easy. She says "He has rewarded our leap of faith with protection". Amen to that.
They arrived at 2:45 AM Saturday morning and the funeral was at 10:00 AM. They had made it.
