What do you do when the ceiling falls in?
February 17, 2013
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What do you do when the ceiling falls in? Looking at waist deep insulation last week, that question took on a chilling immediacy. My daughter was on the phone when she heard a loud cracking sound. Through the phone, I heard "What is that sound? Oh dear God, the ceiling is caving in!" This was followed by screams from my daughter and granddaughter and a panicked "I have to call 911!" A parent's nightmare.
For us, it was a lesson. Within 5 minutes, her husband was on the way home. My other son-in-law who was happily off-duty for that shift was headed to her. Her sister had left school and headed to her as had her dad and I. No one required more than "Come home NOW!" That call comes seldom. In each case, the person called was on the way out the door before hearing the situation. I have a few friends like that as well and I am grateful for them.
Over the week, we have learned that a leak in the roof weakened the ceiling. Because the ceiling was comprised of 2 layers of sheetrock, no one knew. There was a heater situated over the living room and it came through the ceiling bringing down 1800 pounds of sheetrock with it. I had just heard my daughter take my granddaughter into the kitchen two minutes earlier to start lunch. It was our "talk time" and the only time that they were not in the living room during the day. The pets ran for the back. None of them would have survived. Much has been lost. Family - everything important - survived. The timing was so precise that I can only believe that God was watching over them. The ceilings in the entire house had dropped 2" without anyone realizing it. The first room to go was merely the one with the weight of the heater. The bedrooms were a whisper away from falling. Family and friends have come to help. Friends took the cats and we took in the family short-term. The owner of the home is replacing ceilings, floors, roof, even walls for safety.
What is your 'ceiling'? What catastrophe would be overwhelming to you? Is it health, wealth, possessions? Who would you help if they needed it? Who would be there for you? I have faced these questions over the last week as I chased a 3 year old around the house. My catastrophe would be to lose a family member - especially my husband or children. All else, even health related, I could keep on moving. I can call on friends and family. I have seen this in the last week. This group at CAPS is an exceptional community - exceptional simply because of the people who congregate here. Because I believe this group is perhaps made up of those that I would want to have as neighbors and friends, I am curious. Will you share with me your thoughts on situations around you? What would you claim as strength, as concern? Who would you help and who would you turn to for help?
Blessings,
Mary
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