So the power had just come on... started the hell out of me. The second Hurricane in the last 6 weeks had left us a little battered... reopened some of the wounds from the first... made a few new ones... and left us without power for a few days.
Hadn't be more than an hour or so after the power came on that my phone rang. Didn't recognize the number but it was local... and I had left so many messages for so many contractors that I just answered it anyway. Worse comes to worse I would hang up on the idiot trying to sell me an extended warranty for my car.
Nate: Hello
voice: MR NATE MY HOUSE IS ON FIRE
Hrmmm... that sounds like Will. Is will jerking my chain?
Nate: Wait... your house is on fire?
Will: My house is burning. right now.
Nate: Look.. I am probably gonna regret this.. but... I don't believe you.
Will. MR NATE. MY HOUSE IS BURNING RIGHT NOW
Nate: Ok... send me a pic. Then I will believe you.
Nate: ... How's your mama? are you ok?
Will: you believe me now?
Nate: I am on my way.
Now... y'all don't know Will. Will is a kid from a poor family out in the middle of no where. He started coming to youth several years ago when I was running it. Last year we got him baptized in the waters of Lake Junaluska in the Mountains of North Carolina. in the summer of 2019... Will lost his daddy in a car accident just a few hundred yards from his house. And now... his whole house was burning down in front of his eyes.
I had no idea what to do. I just jumped in the truck and drove there. I kept calling our pastor... who kept not answering his phone. if I hadn't known where the house was it wouldn't have mattered. I could've followed the smoke. it was bad. real bad.
When I arrived there were fire trucks everywhere... at least 6... house blazing. They were fighting it... but it didn't matter. it was gonna be a total loss. I found Will and his mama... and I gave Will a hug.
He said, "Mr Nate... My Daddy's ashes are in there."
And I said "Son... Ashes don't burn."
say a prayer for Will and his mom would ya? reckon they could use it.
10 comments:
Praying
Praying brother. Lord have mercy
Wow. It's times like these when you need someone to lead you out of the fear and confusion. Glad you were there for him.
Will-do, Nate.
PRaying for Will!
- Cheds
Praying for Will and his Momma. Let us know what we can do to help them.
Prayers for your friend
Praying for Will and his Mama. Glad the Lord put you in his path.
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Ford Wreckers Townsville
I was at your house when Will’s daddy died. I saw the pin in your eyes then. I had time to attend the function at the church and put some cash in the pot. I was a total stranger and thought I did it surreptitiously. I received a thank you card for the donation. The character to show gratitude, and the effort to track me down, still staggers me. Your community there is special. That it can deal with a tragedy of this magnitude and still pay attention to the most minuscule details speaks volumes .
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