Precious Moments' 30 Stories in 30 Days: Day 30-From the Rubble, Faith is Found

The following story originally appeared in the Summer 2006 issue of the Precious Moments Collectors' Club magazine, Moments. We received permission from the author to re-print this story.

From the Rubble, Faith is Found

Hurricane Katrina dealt my family and all of Pass Christian, MIssissippi, a terrible blow. Months after the storm we found ourselves cleaning up debris, fighting the battle of the insurance companies, looking forward to better days, and remembering what we had and what we have lost.

I evacuated the Saturday before Katrina, leaving and praying that all would be well. My Precious Moments collection had to be left behind. Although I expected to have water in my house, not in my wildest dreams did I think that fifteen feet of water would gush through my neighborhood, rip my house from its slab, turn it 45 degrees, and then slam it back on top of itself.

Because of the gasoline shortage, my return home had to be delayed. On the Thursday following the Monday storm, my oldest daughter called in tears saying that the house was gone--everything was gone! We cried, we grieved, we anguished over what was lost. We knew, however, that we were not alone and the loss was being felt by thousands.

A few hours later, my youngest called, also in tears. Our town, our neighborhood, our house, and our yard were in ruins. However, the two curio cabinets and china cabinet had somehow floated outside and were lying in a row in the backyard. And, miraculously, many of my Precious Moments were still in the cabinet, muddy, but intact! She knew how important they were to all of us. (I have been collecting since the early 1970s and am a charter member of the Club. The girls have claimed them as their own.)

Catherine's home a week after Hurricane Katrina hit Mississippi. The house was removed off its slab and set back on itself.

When I finally reached home, I retrieved the muddy lot of them and returned to my brother's house to clean them. There, in the beautiful sunshine of the front yard, I washed and sanitized these very special figurines. As the mud came off, their shining faces were just as bright as always. It really was a sight to see all of them drying on the green grass. All in all, only two were broken and they were clean breaks that could be repaired.

My most precious of all has been the Holy Family. My best friend, Becky, and I each put a set on layaway many years ago. We were both young married girls and $90 for a set of figurines was way out of our budgets. But we saved our money to buy the set. As I washed them the baby Jesus, a shepherd, and a lamb were the only ones that surfaced. How truly sad.

Several months after the storm, I had the roof pulled off the house to see what else had survived the storm. There in the rubble, I uncovered Joseph (totally intact), then one lamb, then another, until all were there. Finally, in another heap, I found Mary (head broken, but repairable, arm broken and not found). The happiness that I experienced in finding something so important cannot be described in just words. I think everyone within a mile could hear my screams of joy.

So, dear Precious Moments family, a piece of my family's history is mostly intact. And, next Christmas, I will proudly and lovingly display the Holy Family--even with Mary's broken arm--as a sign of hope and love.

We have been very lucky. We have been in our new house for a few months. We still cry at our losses and share our grief with our neighbors. We have become stronger and look forward to the future.

One of the Nativity figurines discovered after the roof was removed.

UPDATE: Three years after the hurricane, Catherine and her family are doing well. In July 2006 she welcomed a grandson and their neighbors are slowly reestablishing their lives with new homes. They rejoice as one more neighbor or friend moves from a FEMA trailer or Katrina cottage into a real house. She says they are humbled by all those from around the US and abroad who helped them after the storm, and who continue to help in rebuilding what was and is their little piece of heaven on earth. While sadness over what they lost still creeps in, especially at this time of year (just three years after Katrina), Catherine says they are truly blessed that God has given them the strength to rebuild our homes and communities.

"As always," says Catherine, "when I look at my dear little Precious Moments with their innocent eyes and shining faces, I'm grateful that in the chaos of loss and destruction that they were spared. Each one is a reminder of a friendship or a special milestone. Each one has its own story in my life. Some have a missing arm or a little chip--but isn't that like life itself? With faith in God and strength in family and friends, we not only survive--we continue to live, laugh, and love--especially love."

by Catherine Myers
Gulfport, MS

This is our final installment in our 30 Stories in 30 Days emails! We hope you have received a blessing each day as you have read how the messages and artwork of Precious Moments have touched, and continue to touch, lives of people from all over the world.

Thank you for helping us celebrate 30 wonderful years!

If you would like to submit your own story for consideration in our quarterly Club magazine, please write to us at collector.stories@preciousmoments.com.

See you in Branson!

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