Our family always loved to go camping when I was younger. I suppose it was because camping was so much cheaper than staying in motels, especially when there were Mom, Dad, and two brothers. For whatever reason, it seemed that we always had plenty of memories and lots of fun.
I can remember one particular trip when we camped at a local State Park. As luck would have it, the weather was beautiful when we left home and all the way to the campground. We even managed to get the tent set-up and we were all settled for the evening when the monsoon rains began. It rained and it rained. Of course, my mom the eternal optimist, kept me and my two brothers busy coloring masterpieces with our crayons, or staying huddled in the middle of the tent singing songs and trying not to worry about the heavy rains or be scared by the thunder and lightening.
The rains seemingly never ended and the rain began to soften the ground around the tent. Without warning, the tent stakes gave way and the tent collapsed on all of us and our crayola centerpieces. My poor Dad had to brave the stormy weather and try to upright the tent, with us in it. After a few moments, my Dad entered the tent soaking wet and the world had been saved for another day, or so we thought. Only a few moments after he entered the tent and dried off, the tent fell again. Although we never heard it ourselves, I'm sure there were a few choice words for all of the trouble that the weather was causing for our tent and my Dad in particular.
I don't remember how the storm ended or even the details of the rest of our camping trip, but I do remember being in the middle of a storm and feeling safe. One of the beauties of a family is the confidence it gives each of us that, no matter what life brings our way, we can survive the storm together.
"Lord, I thank you for the strength of family. Thank you for the support you give us in family for the storms of life."
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