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To the editor:

God is good! Even when things look terribly bad.

I was watching the weather at 3 a.m. Aug. 4. The weatherman pointed to a small spot on his radar screen when he excitedly said, “This is a tornado on the ground in downtown Suffolk!”

My ears perked up immediately, because for 73 years, our family has operated a furniture store in downtown Suffolk. A few minutes later the alarm company called; the sensors had picked up the sound of broken glass. Minutes later, an employee sent us a picture of the front of the store, showing the windows blown out and damage to the slate roof.

By 4 a.m., Brandon and I hurriedly arrived, where we found gaping holes in the roof, exposing the heavens. Water was everywhere, and ceiling tiles were collapsing before our eyes. Most of the furniture was soaking wet or covered with shards of glass.

The first thing that entered my mind was, “Do we have enough insurance to cover this type of catastrophic damage?”

What’s most important finally came to mind: we were closed, and despite all the destruction, nobody in our city was seriously injured or, even worse, killed.

This has to be a God thing. And we should all give Him thanks for His protection.

People began to reach out, offering their support: friends, customers and churches all offering to help. That’s the kind of people we have in Suffolk!

Thankfully, during the six to eight months it will take to refurbish our store, we have a place to continue our business. It’s across the street at our outlet store, 248 W. Washington St.

Another blessing: we have more than enough insurance to cover the expenses of building our store back. Everything will be brand-new — the store and all the furniture.

Although I am 76, I am very optimistic about our future. My son, Brandon, has worked with me for 25 years, and now his sons are very much involved in the business. This is our fourth generation in the furniture business in downtown Suffolk.

Yes, God is good, even when things look hopeless.

Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

 

David Carter

Suffolk