The Perfect Storm

Circumstances lined up to release a perfect storm in my life with my family. It was amazing and painful — yet a God moment — when He allowed the hedge of protection to thin out and the storm to enter.

I was caught off guard. When the storm erupted, my bubble burst. It happened around a family reunion. Old wounds reopened, and I found myself slipping into silent withdrawal instead of speaking. When confronted about my silence, I tried to explain, but surprise met me again in the form of hot tears streaming down my cheeks. The fear of escalation rose up inside me, and I went into survival mode.

Though the storm eventually quieted, I knew it hadn’t dispersed. In the weeks and months that followed, a false peacesettled in — a polite retreat into our corners, but no resolution. Then came an ultimatum, laced with accusation, fear, guilt, betrayals, and failures. Instead of addressing the real issue, the ultimatum became the issue.

What was the real issue?

Pain. Bitterness. Fear. Failures. Betrayals. Insecurities — on both sides.

Months later, I asked God to let me see my part honestly. That’s when the Holy Spirit asked a simple, piercing question:

“What would you have done differently?”

That question didn’t bring condemnation; it brought clarity.

It opened the door to truth — and truth opened the door to healing.