More on Middle Tennessee Tornado

On my way to church in Goodlettsville, I passed some devastation along New Brick Church Pike. Bakers Chapel CME church was damaged and the Red Cross was handing out water and other supplies in the parking lot. Behind the church many, many trees were down. Many homes were damaged.

The grocery store where I often stop to get milk on the way home was severly damaged. The building between the Goodlettsville public library and the Bell South building was flattened.

Nashville Electric Service bucket trucks were everwhere. The police were blocking off access to side streets to all but the people who lived there.

At church this morning, a man I had seen often but didn't know very well got up to talk about his ordeal with the tornado. His house was lifted away from him in about 5 seconds. He and a neighbor went looking for another neighbor, a young mother with two small children. She had sought safety in the basement (not many houses in Middle Tennessee have basements) right before her house was demolished. She had crouched low with her two children under her. The two men dug through the rubble to find them. The two children were unhurt but the mother had punctured lungs and spinal injuries. He said he had heard that she may be parallized from the chest down for the rest of her life.

The newpaper said Friday was the worst loss of life due to tornado activity in Middle Tennessee since 1974.

God, I lift up to You in prayer all those who have lost their homes and possessions. I especially lift up those who were injured or who lost loved ones. Heal the pain and loss. Provide for all their needs, both spoken and unspoken. Lord, I pray for your healing hand on that young mother who was severly injured protecting her children. Amen.