It seems eerie that my last post was about the devastation of Katrina, and today I write about the souls who are suffering in Oklahoma.
I never thought I would write about the loss my city faced after Katrina. Not publicly anyway. Old wounds have turned to scar tissue, and it is not a subject I like to visit. Healing has taken place with the passage of time, of course, but cicatrices remain, and always will.
Flooding and devastation are not foreign to New Orleanians – the city has battled Mother Nature since its founding in 1718 – being flattened in its infancy in 1721 and again in 1722, and more times after that than we care to count.
But this post is about Oklahoma – and the cities that have been victimized my Mother Nature more than once as well.
It’s hard to think past what has happened, and how you will go on, when something of this magnitude happens to you and those you love. Healing is hard to fathom when there is so much pain surrounding you. You can’t ask your neighbors to help because they, too, need help. Or perhaps they’re not even there anymore.
There is one thing – and one thing only – that I can promise you: You will laugh again.
Maybe it won’t be for weeks, or months, perhaps even years. It could be a fleeting moment in time, gone in only seconds, but have patience. Just let it happen when it will. That’s all anyone can ever do anyway.
Stacy Rambles 
I’m sure it must be very hard to write publically about your own suffering in Katrina, but I’m glad that you’ve done so, for people suffering similar devastation to read your words of experience and reassurance.
Our lives are all so much more fragile than we like to think – and in other ways, so much more resilient. Mariette’s story is another example of that.
You are right in so many ways, Christine – and your own story is an example of human resilience. Happy Memorial Day! ❤
This is beautiful, Stacy. What wonderful encouragement for those who have lost so much. Someday they will laugh again. Stacy, you may have told me (six times before) but did you lose your house? Were you in the States then?
Yes, I was on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain – the lake that flooded my house. Those pictures are of the damage to our house and the “gutting” of it. Not fun. ❤
Don’t know if you’ve seen it, Stacy, but Pioneer Woman (www.thepioneerwoman.com) is giving 10 cents for every comment on today’s post to help those affected by the tornadoes. All you have to do is leave a comment. She had over 40,000 comments when I left mine and that’s over $4,000! I hope your readers will comment, too. It all helps.
A lot of life events affect us so much it can take years to recover our balance. But it can be done. This was a great and inspiring post. Thanks. ~ Linne
I know that healing will take place, but that those who have experienced this devastation may not know it. ❤
Our hearts ache for those who are suffering in Oklahoma Stacy, just as they did when we heard of Katrina. We feel so helpless at times like these and all we can do is send prayers and thoughts of a speedy recovery from the devastation. xxx
It does make us feel helpless, but Red Cross is always there lending a hand. We were fed for many days by them after the storm. ❤
So touching, Stacy and there is truth in your words. Time does heal and laughter is the best medicine. You are a true survivor. I prayed for you then, and I pray for the brave people of Oklahoma now. xoxo
I felt those prayers, Karen. It was all those strangers – or as I like to say, friends, I haven’t met yet – who helped us hang on. ❤
Well said.
I hope they can find joy sooner rather than later…
I hope so, too, Guap. ❤
Dearest Stacy,
Indeed, one will laugh again. I listened so often to the devastating story from my husband Pieter’s return after being evacuated the last half year of WWII. They returned to an almost flattened home. Destroyed in the heat of the battle; right in the middle of it… and looted on top of the loss of buildings. There only was an old carpet left when his Dad with his boys had gone back home. They rolled themselves inside that carpet. When daylight came, his Dad put his arms around his boys and said: ‘We are the luckiest people on earth because we’re all there!’. And they started all over from scratch. Human beings are quite flexible and can endure a lot. Even with all the pain surrounding you when it hits larger regions at once. One thing for sure does help us to go on; the connection with heaven – knowing that we don’t go this alone.
You all have come a long way and yes, time does heal wounds!
Hugs to you,
Mariette
Wow – that’s an incredible story, Mariette! Thank you so much for sharing it with me. It is inspiring to others to hear that the soul can heal. ❤