Water! No, seriously, water.

Oh, Texas, my beloved Texas. Where art thou?

Covered in two thick blankets of snow and a freeze to rival the most catastrophic ones in the country, we were not prepared for February 2021! (Too soon?)

Running or moving water outside of its normal boundaries, such as ponds, lakes, streams, rivers or mighty oceans, makes me nervous—not nervous enough to make me have a total freak-out, but maybe close to one. Water just shouldn’t run outside of its boundaries.

Growing up in Pennsylvania, I remember when there was an awful rainstorm for days and then flooding on our Army base. Though water was everywhere we looked, my parents worked tirelessly to keep our lives as normal as possible during this disruption. There was often flooding in Louisiana where my husband grew up, too. Water just comes rushing in sometimes with very little notice.

Texas has already been hit in 2021 with one of the worst winter storms seen in decades. Power outages, burst pipes, no running water, ice, and snow—all played a part in our city’s near shutdown. With little warning, water came flooding into our home and several of our friends’ homes. We are all safe. However, many communities were devastated, especially those with fragile family members. There were families who struggled without their oxygen machines, feeding machines and other life-sustaining equipment because their power was off. It was very difficult.

Last week, I remembered how Robert flooded an upstairs bathroom in a previous home. His one innocent action allowed water to flow down into the downstairs laundry room. You never want to hear the question,

“Why is it raining in the laundry room?”

You definitely never want to hear that question! Water flowed over the upstairs sink because Robert didn’t know that if you stopped up the upstairs sink, the water would eventually move its way onto the floor, through the floor, down into the ceiling, and then onto the downstairs floor. He could walk at that time, and so giving him time alone in the upstairs bathroom turned out to be a very wet decision! He just walked back downstairs when it started to overflow.

Another time, that same upstairs bathroom flooded into the downstairs laundry room when a houseguest couldn’t get the bathtub faucet to turn off while none of my family was home. Fortunately, I was just pulling into the driveway with my two-year-old twins in tow when my frantic friend called my cell phone, and I rushed to turn the water off outside.

Water. Outside of its intended boundaries, water can be dangerous.

Water. Left alone with a child who has intellectual delays, water can make it rain inside your house.

Water. In a sudden hard freeze, the lack of water can remind you that you have much for which to be grateful.

Here’s hoping all of you fellow Texans survived the Texas freeze of 2021 with little damage and a deep appreciation for water. And as we walk, may that water stay right where we need it to be.

Listening Library: Walking on Water (NEEDTOBREATHE)

https://youtu.be/abwwcmQriq0

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

(Isaiah 43:2 ESV)

Walking on Water

The wind is strong, the water is deep My heart is heavy and my mind won't sleep

Oh can you heal, my fear it breathes I need to know if You're the shadow I can see

I wanna run to You when the waves break through I wanna run to You and not turn back

There's no turning back Nothing in the past My eyes on You again

Can't see nothing at all But Your outstretched arms Help me believe it

Though I falter You got me walking on water

The ocean's singing, the song of grace But if I'm honest with myself, I am still afraid

I wanna run to You when the waves break through I'm gonna run to You and not turn back

There's no turning back Nothing in the past My eyes on You again

Can't see nothing at all But Your outstretched arms Help me believe it

Though I falter You got me walking on water

I was sinking like a stone again I was halfway in the grave and then I looked up and saw Your face again You pulled me out of the water, water, water

There's no turning back Nothing in the past My eyes on You again

Can't see nothing at all But Your outstretched arms Help me believe it

Though I falter You got me walking on water Though I falter You got me walking on water, water, water You got me walking on water, water, water, water

Songwriters: Matt Maher / Bear Rineheart / Bo Rineheart

WALKING ON WATER lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Essential Music Publishing