2020: The Year of Exceptional Hardships
2020 has sure been a year of hardships, hasn’t it?
I can’t even begin to list all the hardships I’ve experienced so far since New Year’s Day. (I tried, but the list was too depressing, so I deleted it!)
One of the most recent difficulties (amidst everything else going on in the country and world), is that my little town of Midland in central Michigan experienced devastating flooding.
The day started like any other Michigan May day. Lots of rain, but not much more than usual. Though there were flood warnings issued for the Tittabawassee River (which is a normal-sized river), I didn’t think anything of the warnings. The river rises to flood level a couple of times a year, and it’s never a big deal. Especially because I live over TWO miles away from the river.
Here’s a picture of my son fishing in the Tittabawassee in April. See, not too big, right?
Well, that evening with perfectly sunny skies and beautiful spring weather, our phones started going crazy with that super loud alert notice. And when we read the message, we were all like, “What?! We have to evacuate our home because of an imminent flood?”
The Edenville Dam that holds back Wixom Lake to the north of Midland had collapsed and all the water from the lake was gushing down the Tittabawassee River toward Midland. To make matters worse, another lake and dam were in the path of all this water in Sandford. Because of the pressure of too much water, the Sandford Dam was compromised and leaking, with the potential to burst.
All that to say, Midland was only hours away from being flooded by the water from at least one lake, possibly two. And our house was in the area of Midland that experts determined could face flooding. Did I mention that we’re over TWO miles away from the river?
Shocked at the news, we frantically packed our bags and attempted to move as much as we could out of our basement. Friends quickly reached out to us and invited us (and our five cats) to come stay with them.
As it turned out, the river ran down our street and came up to the curb. All the sewer drains filled with river water and poured in to people’s homes through their basements. Like everyone else in the area, our basement was full of river water (or lake water!), which destroyed carpet, walls, belongings, and appliances.
While we lost a great deal including our washing machine, dryer, and freezer, believe it or not, we were actually on the lower end of the damage scale. Many in our surrounding neighborhoods had their foundations collapse from all the water pressure. Others had water so high that it destroyed the flooring on the first level. Still others had it into their first floor. Whole houses unlivable. Some condemned, too unsafe for their owners to even return to salvage belongings.
Driving through our neighborhood in the days after the flooding was heart-wrenching. The enormous piles of flood-damaged stuff on the curbs was staggering. Even though the clean-up crews have been working from dawn until dusk removing the debris, the damage is still there both physically and emotionally.
As I consider the tragedy, I’m still very saddened. But as I live through the aftermath, I’ve been reading Ann Voskamp’s book, The Broken Way, which is all about how to live in a broken world. Here are a couple of quotes that have encouraged me:
“Jesus with his pierced side is always on the side of the broken. Jesus always moves into places moved with grief. Jesus always seeks out where the suffering is, and that’s where Jesus stays.”
“Wounds can be openings to the beauty in us. And our weaknesses can be a container for God’s glory . . . God does great things through the greatly wounded.”
How about YOU? How has 2020 been a hard year for you?
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Flooding is awful! One time we had a sump pump back up in our basement that caused some damage and loss but nothing compared to what you’ve experienced. 2020 is presenting its challenges in my life with a major move and a 93-year-old mom who is on the edge or into the first stages of dementia. I believe God is in control and will provide strength as needed. I hope you are seeing brighter days ahead! Blessings!
Oh wow, Jody! I knew you were from Michigan, but I didn’t know where. Being from West Michigan (GR), we weren’t near the floods but I followed along with all the devastation that came, and it was so sad to see all the homes and businesses that were destroyed, and seeing images of the empty lake was so strange. Praise God you all were safe and didn’t have more damage than you did. It really has been a crazy year, but I believe too that God’s got us and He knows what He’s doing to work all this for His good. 🙂 Blessings!
I’m so sorry dear Jody. I’ve. lost everything before so I know the devastating feelings. Praying God’s provision and healing over y’all. Hugs
The flood is so serious! Hope you’re alright with your friends and cats! Pray for you!
What a terrible experience! On top of the pandemic? Good grief! What next?! I pray that you’re able to restore your home.
Flooding is definitely traumatic. I’m glad it was only your basement that flooded and that you are fine. Our community flooded in 2017 from Hurricane Harvey and, while traumatized, came through fine. This year the COVID-19 crisis has been a difficult struggle with everyone’s lives disrupted; however, greater rest, greater reading time, and greater appreciation of once again being able to worship with our congregation have been some of the positive results. Just think–future generations will read about and hear about this historical period of the pandemic.
I’m so sorry, Jody. For you, for all those facing staggering loss in your town.
The Ann Voskamp quotes you shared made me teary because they’re so true and beautiful. God is so very close to those who are suffering.
This has been a truly amazing year. One thing after another. I needed to read this today, it shows I am not alone with all that is happening around us these trying days. I am sorry for all of your losses. I can’t imagine how this has been for you and your family. These days remind me of my parents and grandparents and all they went through in times gone by. They survived great things, ordinary things and they were steadfast in their faith. I can see now, these many decades later how they became so strong.
So sorry you had to go through this. We had a fire in our Apartment building years ago and only got smoke damage. But we had to move.
Nothing so bad this year but I still find myself weepy for no reason/ lots of reasons. We are retired, so used to not doing much.
Blessings!
I’m so sorry you had to go through this. Such horrible devastation. I am still praying for you and everyone else in your area. This has been a hard year for so many of us, for so many reasons. I really don’t know how people manage without the Lord.
2020 is certainly going to be a year we won’t forget—as much as we may like to! Although we have personally fared well this year all things considered, I have walked through some tough things with close friends over recent months, and it has been faith-building for me to see the way God has been working in the midst of it all. How wonderful that there is goodness and beauty to be found, even in the middle of hardship and brokenness!
This year started off hard for me. Last year my mom left. We could not find her. She goes through depression and we searched everywhere. One day she pulled out in front of me down the road from my house in the apartment complexes. She had the checkbook and had been spending a bunch of money. We had to switch some over to my dads
name and learned she had her own. So we did that then she filed for divorce. It has been hard on my dad, they have been married 40 years. But he is tired of being bullied and hurt. She did the same thing to me all my life. I for give her because she has mental illness. In January my dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer. That was the scariest thing I have went through with anyone of my family members and we have had some scares. He had to have a urinal bag he had to wear every where he went. He was week. I moved him in with us. Because he was so week. He finally was able to take the catheters out then got a really bad infection. We though the cancer had moved but thank goodness it did not. He had to catheter again multiple times because of infection and not being able to pee. He was in so much pain. We prayed everyday through this. The church prayed. He is now cancer free and back at work. I could not be prouder of him. That man has been though a lot and he has made it out cancer free. Please pray for us the divorce is almost over In July. Pray that my mom seeks help. We have begged and pleaded taken her to the hospital but can’t force her. It’s the law she has rights. I love my mom and my dad. My dad is a rock. Pray for my family and my kids. It has been a lot on them too.
Oh Wow, Holly, So glad to hear that your dad is recovering from cancer. Praying that you will all grow stronger through the continued challenge of the divorce.
Glad that you are all safe. Thanks for sharing and including the lessons.
We lived on Flaxmoor in 1986. There was about 8 inches of water in the basement. This one was much worse. God Blessing be with you as you recover.
How horrible for you and your neighbors! God be with all of you.
Thank you all for your sweet words and prayers!! 🙂
I visited my boyfriend (now husband) in northern NJ back in 1984, a week after they experienced a 100-year flood. They had a foot or more of water in the house; other across the street were flooded to their roofs. They stayed up in the attic until the National Guard insisted they evacuate. Since then, he has never, ever lived in a flood plain or near a river. The devastation left afterward was heartbreaking, so I can relate to what your neighborhood looks like now. As for 2020? Well, can we give it back?