WHAT TO LEARN FROM DESTRUCTIONS LIKE HARVEY!

Watching the news, listening to the radio, and reading the newspapers can’t even begin to depict the devastation that TEXAS is going through. I am sure each and every one of us have been through some horrible experience in our lives that, hopefully, we recovered from and learned life lessons. I grew up in the New Orleans area and experienced many a hurricane. My greatest challenge came in 1965 when HURRICANE BETSY hit my hometown area. I was a senior in high school and the NATIONAL GUARD took care of us for 6 weeks. We could not return to our homes because there was no electricity or running water. Very scary time in my life!

When KATRINA hit New Orleans, I once again realized how devastating these hurricanes are and how they can wreak havoc on an entire population. My daughter, CELESTE, was stranded at the hospital where she worked. WILD LIFE AND FISHERIES personnel and a dear friend of my daughter, launched boats and were finally able to rescue her. A few days later, some of her co-workers appeared at our home with only the clothes on their backs. We fed them, washed for them, and let them rest as best they could. They left the next day and we never saw them again, but, before they departed, I got the biggest hugs. The feeling of helping someone is the best gift you can bestow upon yourself.

At some point in our lives, we all reach a low point, but we are fortunate enough to bounce back, and, as we are picking up the pieces of our lives, hopefully, we are STRONGER as we move forward in life!

Hopefully, we all realize that in some way, shape, or form, we can assist our neighbors who are in desperate need of help. I cannot give enough praise and recognition to all the helping hands out there who are assisting those impacted by hurricane Harvey, especially the members of “THE CAJUN NAVY”! How proud you make us feel!

All these “HELPERS” are the ones that WORK HARD IN SILENCE, AND LET THEIR SUCCESS MAKE ALL THAT WONDERFUL NOISE!

We must all remember– NEVER LOOK DOWN AT ANYONE, UNLESS YOU ARE HELPING THEM UP!

I was always taught–“THE MEASURE OF YOUR LIFE WILL NOT BE IN WHAT YOU ACCUMULATE, BUT IN WHAT YOU GIVE AWAY!”

My final thoughts are focused on all those who are homeless, confused, miserable, lost, angry, hurt, etc.:
“TRY TO ACCEPT WHAT IS, LET GO OF WHAT WAS, AND ALWAYS HAVE FAITH IN WHAT WILL BE!”

Sending continued prayers to our neighbors in TEXAS and our fellow Louisianans affected by this horrific storm!