Dear Sean

Wood planks were sucked from the boardwalk. I saw a bass boat flying through the air. Lawrence’s face was pink with blood and dirt. My T-shirt had been blown clean off. The sand was slicing through my bare skin. 

DEAR SEAN:

I want to write a love letter to my girlfriend, but I’m not good with words, so excuse the typos, there are probably all kinds in this message!

My Tori walked right into my life after my wife left and she’s helped raise my two sons and one daughter like they were her own. She became a mother right off, my lifesaver, and she has always been more than just a girl to me. She’s my angel, I want her to know how much I love her. Oh, and we’re getting married.

Thanks for helping me in advance!
JASON 

DEAR JASON AND TORI:

I have seen a hurricane up close.

I was younger, braver, and infinitely more stupid. My friend, Lawrence, and I parked at a beach. We walked toward the angry shore like a couple of young men with dangerously low IQ’s. We watched white water churn in the Gulf.

The windblown sand stung my face and nearly ruined me eyes. I leaned headfirst into the wind and let the force lift my teenage body upward.

Like I said: stupid.

The gusts hoisted me an entire foot off the ground, throwing me backward.

I won’t lie, it felt exhilarating.

That day, the water screamed loud enough to cause deafness. It looked like the world was getting ripped apart.

My friend looked at me and shouted. He was only inches from me, but I couldn’t hear his voice. The roaring water made my eardrums throb.

The sand cut my friend’s cheeks and made blood streaks run across his face. The air became pure saltwater. And though we were standing close, we couldn’t see one another.

The pressure sucked air from my lungs.

Lawrence and I traded excitement for flat-out fear. We’d made a grave mistake. We’d been foolish enough to think we could survive a few minutes in Hell.

Only this was not simply Hell. This was the end of the world. And we were going to die.

The air turned gray. The gusts forced us onto all fours. We crawled toward the boardwalk on our bellies.

Wood planks were sucked from the boardwalk. I saw a bass boat flying through the air. Lawrence’s face was pink with blood and dirt. My T-shirt had been blown clean off. The sand was slicing through my bare skin.

I prayed for God to spare us. I really prayed. We crawled through sea oats and sand dunes.

When we reached the truck we limped inside and tried to catch our breath.

You should’ve seen us. Lawrence looked like he’d been run over by a 1966 Chevy Impala. Tattered clothes. Bloody faces. Ringing ears. The truck was rocking in the wind.

It was a god-awful storm. And we were god-awful stupid.

But, I experienced true power that day. And even though it might sound melodramatic, it was a force so strong it nearly stopped my heart with reverence.

It is the most power I’ve ever seen in one place. Power that could rip a Gulf apart, tear up a sky, and spin the earth backward. I’m lucky to have survived it.

Tori, please listen to me. Everything I just described is peanuts compared to the power of Jason’s love for you.

Peanuts.

May your marriage last forever.

11 comments

  1. Sue Cronkite - October 18, 2017 1:34 pm

    Wow!

    Reply
  2. Joan Dake - October 18, 2017 1:58 pm

    I’m speechless in amazement–the power of that storm–overwhelming. Thank You God for the gentleness of the same power of love.

    Reply
  3. Becky Gookin - October 18, 2017 2:02 pm

    Wow, you make my heart smile and my cheeks hurt with glee!!!

    Reply
  4. Patricia Schmaltz - October 18, 2017 2:27 pm

    I love your words.. even as they make me CRY! You also just described the love I have for my grandbabies. It matters not that we have no DNA in common. Thank you.

    Reply
  5. Janet Mary Lee - October 18, 2017 3:01 pm

    Another just incredibly written story. I do envy you witnessing that power, and yes, you guys were very fortunate! How fortunate we are you perceived all that the experience was, and to revere and know there is something greater. And to remind us! Many people go through a lifetime not knowing this, and how sad is that! Thank you again, Sean!!

    Reply
  6. Marty from Alabama - October 18, 2017 3:03 pm

    Everyone should have a love like that and everyone should love like that.
    Thank you, again.

    Reply
    • Catherine - October 18, 2017 3:26 pm

      Powerful love lasts forever. Powerful message here.❤

      Reply
  7. teachenglish67 - October 18, 2017 3:47 pm

    The power of love: “Can’t see it with your eyes, hold it in your hand, but like the wind that covers our land…
    Strong enough to rule the heart of any man this thing called love.
    It can lift you up it can let you down take your world turn it all around
    Ever since time nothing’s ever been found stronger than love.” Jerry Reed

    This is so true. I’ve seen and experienced the power of love in my life.

    Reply
  8. Nancy - October 18, 2017 4:16 pm

    Once again – you are amazing!

    Reply
  9. Linda Chipman - October 18, 2017 5:40 pm

    Sean you did it again! Wonderful!!!

    Reply
  10. Mary - October 19, 2017 3:18 pm

    Waaayyyyyyyyyyyy. Awesome!!!!! Love it! 🙂

    Reply

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