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An unexpected visitor came to see us, and his name was Hugo. We were warned that he was on his way to South Carolina from the Caribbean. He was a threat to everything we owned including our homes, cars, and our lives.  We had to take his visit seriously.

When he banged on the door, he brought with him high winds, massive flooding, and devastation without repentance.  People had to board up their windows and doors.  Many had to evacuate the low-lying areas along the coast.

We frantically prepared the best way we could for this unexpected event with candles, matches, flashlights, bottled water, and perishable items.

We could hear him getting closer by the whistling of the trees and the pouring rain hitting the roof like golf balls falling from the sky.

When he came to my door he didn’t wait for an answer, he beat the door trying to get in. The lights flickered then the house went pitch black. I could hear my heart beat like a drum while we waited in the dark for Hugo to leave.

Unable to move, we prayed for our safety, and for our loved ones and neighbors. Hours passed by while listening to the fierce winds ripping shingles off the rooftop. We began to get very sleepy and fell into a deep sleep.

Awakened by the bright sunlight piercing through the mini-blinds it was finally daybreak, and the worst was over.  I rushed to peer out of my window to see what happened.  I saw broken tree limbs and debris everywhere.

Miraculously, our home was intact. We were safe.

Hurricane Hugo traveled hundreds of miles, caused billions of dollars in damage, tore down power lines leaving many people homeless, and many fatalities. This was a Category 4 Hurricane with over 100 miles per hour winds. He came so close but turned and left us alone.

My grandmother would often say there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother, and his name is Jesus, so we sent Him an invitation that night and He came inside and stayed with us.

In all kinds of weather invite Him in.

Proverbs 18:24 … But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (New King James Version)

Luke 8:24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, And they ceased, and there was a calm.

I thought I was all alone, but then suddenly a man appeared in the night and tapped on my foggy window with raindrops drizzling down his face and asked, “Are you alright, Mam?”

I said with a quivering voice, “No, I tried to make it to the exit up ahead but ran out of gas.”

He looked at my precious sons sound asleep in the backseat; one in the car seat and the other slumped over to the side, while I sat there off to the shoulder of the road in my white Chevy Chevette hatchback.

He pondered for a moment and kindly said, “I’ll get you some gas, do you have some money.”

I nervously said, “I only have $2.”

He took the money and pulled off exiting up ahead. As I sat there in the dark, shivering and cold, my two little angels in the backseat were unaware of the circumstances we were in.  I noticed as 20-minutes went by that no one else stopped to inquire about us. I felt alone and had no way to call anyone.

As more time passed doubt started to set in and I cried to God, “He’s not coming back, is he?”

Then all of a sudden blinking lights pulled up close behind me, and the same man with a red gas can in his hand opened my gas cap and started filling up my empty tank. I looked up and whispered, thank you.

As the rain plummeted like bullets falling from the sky over his yellow rain coat, he tapped on the window and said, “I had to stop and buy a gas can; I needed one anyway.  You are ready to go now, Mam.”

I said teary-eyed as I shook my head, “I’m sorry, but I don’t have any more money to give you. God bless you.”

He said, “God bless you too,” as he went on his way.

I realized that I never had to get out of my car, get wet, nor wake up my boys. My angel.

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!