Hindsight

   One year ago today I stood by helplessly witnessing the horror that was Hurricane Harvey. As the waters invaded the sanctuary of my new home and slowly rose to an eventual nine inches, I felt a sense of dread and a fear of the unknown. The only certainties were the facts that I would lose most of my belongings and that I would be displaced indefinitely. I had recently become unemployed and I feared homelessness and destitution. My faith in God and in humanity were in short supply at that time, and this act of God only served to decrease that faith. 

    As a tenant in a  rented home, I was not entitled to insurance benefits. I had not procured renter’s insurance, as I had recently moved into this home. It was on my long “to do” list. FEMA offered me one hotel room for thirty days, which would not suffice for my large family. I felt as though I had hit rock bottom for the third time in three years. I made Herculean attempts to maintain a charade of happiness, determined not to pass my fear on to my children. 

    A funny thing happens when you apply a positive facade. You tend to embody the sentiment and it is no longer a front, it becomes your true being. Needless to say, everything worked out for us. I was back in the house after a record breaking four months. In the interim, my family and I had a place to live, food to eat, and clothing to wear. Within the year I have finally procured gainful employment and have replaced almost all of our destroyed belongings. Most importantly, we all learned some very valuable lessons about appreciation. 

    My immediate community, as well as the Jewish community at large, ensured that my family’s needs were met. I will never again take simple pleasures for granted. I’ve learned to truly believe that everything that happens is for the good, whether I understand it at the time or not. Hindsight has taught me to believe and trust in God. He has a plan for me and it will happen, despite my attempts to thwart it at times. This faith keeps me going.