He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.  They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.  Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love….. Psalm 107:29-31 (NIV)

Now that the hurricane has passed by, I want to give thanks to God for protecting our home and the lives and homes of our family and friends in Florida.  I know there were many tragedies from the hurricane in Haiti and the Caribbean.  My prayers are with those countries as they grieve and work to rebuild their lives.

As I watched the news coverage of flood waters coursing through the streets of St. Augustine and saw toppled trees throughout the city of Jacksonville, I knew it could have been worse … many lives could have been lost.  I am thankful that my 8 year-old grandson survived his first hurricane.  His reaction as his family drove down their street the day after was, “This is a terrible mess!”

As I look at the picture of my grandson standing by a huge downed oak tree, I am thankful he and his parents are safe.  Thankful that the storm is now a whisper and the waves are hushed.  I am sure each of you felt a sense of peace as the storm grew calm and you were safely inside the haven of your home.

As Psalm 107 tells us, may we give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love!