Priority Check : How the Hurricane Devastation Shifted My perspective

The last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind for many living in the southeast. From storm prep, change in schedules, Hurricane Florence’s arrival, flooding and trying to find “normal” again, many are exhausted.

September is now the longest month ever and this past week, well let’s just say, “What day is it?” Just like you, I struggled with being a mom, wife, good neighbor and business owner amid the chaos.

When natural disaster strikes our area, first responders like my husband are called to serve outside of their normal capacity.

For me, this means I’m a single mom, a farm wife, a worried Trooper’s wife, and I still have to be a leader to my team and a customer service agent to my customers.

I had a lot of time to think about my priorities and what really matters as I watched friends and neighbors lose their homes and livelihoods.

I have had a huge sense of guilt during all of this. I’ve felt guilty for still having a home, my possessions and my job. I became a tad reclusive because I didn’t want it to seem as if I was not sensitive to the needs of those in my network or what they were going through. I’ve felt bad for complaining about the leak in my ceiling because in the grand scheme of things it’s minor compared to what so many are facing.

Emotionally I have been exhausted. Playing all of my roles 24/7 for nearly 12 days straight made me realize how important my family, my husband and my faith are in my life. Without each of these pieces, I am not complete.

I also took a step back from my business. I took the time to focus on my family and help those within community who had suffered. It just didn’t feel “right” to share about products when that was not on the forefront of people’s minds.

But then I remembered, “To whom much is given, from him much is expected.” Luke 12:48 And from this I know my priorities must shift.

God expects me to be a good mother, loving wife and helpful neighbor. He wants me to give the resources I have been blessed with to those not as fortunate. By sharing/donating/serving with others, I am being the hands and feet and sharing his love.

As guilty as I felt about working my business during this time, my business provides my family the resources to be able to help others. However, it doesn’t have to and shouldn’t be number one priority.

I hate that it takes a disaster such as Florence and her aftermath to make folks including myself realize what’s really important. However, I think it serves as a reminder that God wants us to be his servants, with our priorities in order. I am thankful for the reminder to always put him first.

Did the hurricane shift your perspective or have you ever had a situation like this teach you so much? I would love to know, and hear how you processed all of it.

With love,