This morning…
I sat on our front porch praying, pondering with a heavy heart all the last several days have held, and I noticed. There in its pot, the ailing begonia had, much to my delight, two buds. I picked it up to get a better look, then whispered—
“Thank you for this small sign of hope.”
And it was. After all, only several weeks ago I’d contemplated tossing the tiny plant. Unlike its sister who was thriving, this one had very few leaves and appeared quite pitiful. Should I put it out of its misery?
Instead, I repotted it, along with several other houseplants begging for attention. Then I waited, watchful to see what would happen. As the days passed, the begonia did seem to gain strength, standing a bit taller in its pottery vessel. I watered it, silently cheering it on.
Only time would tell.
And it did, as time does. This morning’s surprise—the begonia’s yellow buds preparing to open—served as a reminder—
- Life is precious.
- Life is tenacious.
- Life will be restored.
This is much needed encouragement after the devastation of Hurricane Helene here in western North Carolina, not to mention, in parts of Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and South Carolina.
It’s not the first time, though it’s far worse than anything my family’s experienced in the two decades we’ve called Waynesville home. The first was in 2004 with Hurricane Ivan. This Category 3 storm caused widespread damage to our rural mountain community. It was followed too soon by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which, again, ravaged parts of western North Carolina and the South.
Then in 2021, Tropical Storm Fred hit Haywood County with a vengeance. This natural disaster’s effects were sadly worsened due to human error when, even after warnings, lake waters weren’t lowered, causing the sudden heavy rainfall to spill over Lake Logan’s dam, flooding the area before people could adequately prepare or escape.
Caught by Surprise
But this most recent storm, Hurricane Helene—though predicted to be a Category 4—surprised everyone. It’s not that we weren’t foretold of the potential dangers, but I suppose we didn’t realize how far-reaching this storm would be.
The eastern part of Haywood County had been the hardest hit before, and perhaps we were in denial it would happen again so soon. But more, it seems we were ill-prepared for the chain of events a catastrophic storm of this magnitude could cause—including landslides, overrun sewage systems, and cut-off communication due to the lack of power, cellular service, and internet access.
And now, our community is reeling. Our son who serves as an officer with the Waynesville Police Department says the death toll is climbing, with many still missing. And this is just in Waynesville and our close-knit neighboring towns. Factor in Asheville, Black Mountain, and Chimney Rock, as well as others, and the numbers are staggering.
Last night, my husband Bill and I were finally able to generate a bit of internet with a hotspot on our phone, and we watched with horror some local news. The images are beyond what we can emotionally and mentally process, with entire areas familiar to us unrecognizable. Seemingly unsalvageable.
But for the begonia.
The begonia—that little glimmer of hope, though its flower symbolizes “caution”—is just that. At least for me. It reminds me that, even in the darkest times, God is present and…
LIFE IS PRECIOUS
- God cares–“Cast all your anxiety on him because [God] cares for you” (I Peter 5:7).
- God’s compassionate–“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to angry, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Genesis 34:6).
- God never leaves or forsakes us–“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified… for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6).
- And God is whispering—”Your life matters. Yes, you are precious.”
“But now, this is what the Lord says–he who created you… he who formed you… ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have [called] you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you… For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior… you are precious and honored in my sight’…” (portions of Isaiah 43:1-4).
LIFE IS TENACIOUS
The buds on the begonia also tell me that, even though all seems lost—the damage too vast to be mended or restored—people persevere. We possess a will to survive and, even more, to thrive.
Much like the encouragement I offered my feeble houseplant, when someone beside us is struggling, wanting to give up, we can take our turn to encourage and uphold, speaking truth to our neighbor. Proclaiming life with promises we’ve been given.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
LIFE WILL BE RESTORED
Finally, the little begonia is a reminder that there is life beyond Hurricane Helene. Together, with the generosity of others, lives will be restored. It will take time. It won’t be easy or without hard work and dedication.
Here are some practical, reliable ways to offer assistance—
Red Cross – https://www.redcross.org
Salvation Army – https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/
Samaritan’s Purse – https://www.samaritanspurse.org
Send Relief – https://www.sendrelief.org
(Thank you, DiAnn Mills, for your wonderful, helpful post.)
As for the message of caution the begonia offers, perhaps it beckons us to heed the warning—
- Be prepared.
- Be well-equipped.
- Be dressed with our spiritual armor.
After all, we know. We’ve been given ample opportunity to gain knowledge, that we might not be caught off-guard but stand firm, even when the battle is fierce, the days are dark, and the season in which we find ourselves is overwhelming.
We must remember Jesus’s words—
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
And though merely two buds today, tomorrow I’m hopeful…
The begonia will bloom.
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A Prayer for God’s Presence
God, hear me once again.
I’m asking You to listen to me.
I’m at my wit’s end and my heart has grown weak.
I need You to lead me to a place of safety.
You are my Refuge, the place I run to when the enemy chases me.
Protect me, Father – keep me in Your presence forever and protect me with Your love and faithfulness.
(Adapted by Rachel Wojo from Psalm 61:1-8. Used with the author’s permission.)
***All scriptures are taken from the NIV.***
I can’t begin to imagine all you and others in your area are facing. Our prayers continue. Thank you for the links.
My wife and I were on vacation in Asheville in mid-September. It is painful to see all of the pictures from Asheville and the region, as well as up near Boone. Praying for you folks
Thank you Maureen. It’s so horrible to see the destruction. And so hard to imagine restoration. But it’s possible because God is about restoration.