“Take cover immediately” are words that will forever be etched in my memories of March 3rd, 2019. The meteorologist went from an informative, stern voice to one of pure panic. We knew bad weather would be coming through East Alabama, but we were not prepared for the monstrosity of the EF-4 tornado that would devastate Lee County.
As my boys laid on their mattresses that were piled in the hallway, my husband stood patrol on the front porch, while the winds and rain began to roar. The weather had subsided almost as quickly as it came. No less than thirty minutes later did I get a text message that brought me to my knees. “Please pray for Taylor! She was at her friend Kayla’s house and it got hit. Kayla is on her way to the hospital but they can not find Taylor!”
As I tried to read the text message aloud to my husband, I burst into tears and the two of us began to pray. Nine minutes later, my phone pinged again, “They found Kayla’s father, he died. They still have not found Taylor. Please pray.” My heart dropped. I frantically began texting all of my prayer warriors to immediately intercede for Taylor’s well-being and for her parents as well. Just ten minutes later my phone went off again… they had found Taylor. She did not make it.
My husband and I could not wrap our minds around the news. As a mother of four little ones, I physically crumbled thinking about what Ashley (Taylor’s mom) was experiencing at that very moment. How could this have happened? Taylor was only ten years old. Her life had only just begun. My husband held me as we cried and prayed for Ashley and David (her parents).
The news coverage was right in the midst of the destruction the tornado had left behind. As we watched the TV, we couldn’t believe our eyes. The news anchor reported that First Responders were already on the scene, desperately trying to move debris and brush so they could get to people. Fallen trees, power lines, and other mangled debris littered the roads of Beauregard. As First Responders searched bare-handed for buried victims through hazardous debris, the news anchor informed us they were in immediate need of gloves. With those words, my husband jumped up, called his buddies and was on a mission to get gloves and supplies out there and to hopefully find a way to get to his friend, David as well.
As Will loaded up his pickup truck (the very one David had sold him) and headed out to Beauregard, the kids and I gathered together in their room to do the only thing we could do… pray. My throat clenched tight and I could not get any words out of my mouth. It was in that moment that my seven year old began to pray. He called out to the Creator of the Heavens and Earth in one of the boldest prayers he has ever prayed… “Jesus, please bring Taylor back to life.” I crumbled again. My heart shattered. WOW! Hudson has grown up hearing about the miracles Jesus preformed and knew He had brought the dead (Lazarus) back to life, so why wouldn’t Jesus be able to do it again? Why not pray for something so bold? Oh the pure faith of a child…. oh the mighty and bold prayer.
As my tender-hearted, four year old, Croix, saw the physical sorrow of his mother on her knees, he began to pray for Taylor’s mommy. To make her brave and to be with her.
I will never forget that moment with my children as long as I live. I’m sure many people would advise against letting your young children see us adults in such disarray and sorrow, but why? Why filter moments like these? As believers, we have been called to intercede for those that are hurting and “…to weep with those who weep.” [Romans 12:15] My husband and I want our children to understand the realities of life… the reality that in the midst of heart break, they have seen their parents still run to The Lord in prayer. It is important for our children to experience God outside the box of a church setting, and to understand He intricately is woven throughout every day of our lives. The Lord is present with us in the good, the bad and the ugly and through it all, we will praise His name.
Later that same night, we visited with David and Ashley. We hugged their necks and just wept along side of them and other members of our church family. There are no words to offer parents that have lost a child… none. But David had words. He expressed words of gratefulness to Jesus for the ten years of life he and Ashely got to have with their daughter. He continued to praise The King of the Heavens in the midst of such heart break. We all were in complete awe.
A few days later, we again got to witness such unshakable faith at Taylor’s funeral. The pianist began to play and sing “Ten Thousand Reasons” by Matt Redman. As we all sat in the pews, solemnly singing along, we saw something indescribable take place. With trembling arms raised to the heavens, David stood to his feet to worship the King of the Universe. Tears streamed down his face, as he physically praised The Lord. There are no words powerful enough to describe that moment. Through the hardest battle of their lives, Ashley and David still stood faithful.
Our family will never forget the precious life of Taylor Thornton. She truly was an beautiful example of a child of God. As for Lee County…Taylor was just one out of 23 lives that were lost on March 3rd, 2019. An additional two hundred and five homes were destroyed and another one hundred and sixteen homes were seriously damaged. The community of Beauregard still has a long road to recovery ahead but it has been beyond inspiring to watch the people that have lost it all continue to give God the glory in the midst of the storm.
