Many of our friends and family members in Southeast Texas still are facing uncertain futures this morning. Some of them have lost most of their worldly possessions, including their homes, belongings and vehicles.

It remains a crisis in many ways. It’s in crises that we often find out what’s most important to us.

In the last few weeks, the people I have the honor of serving alongside have shown repeatedly that the children, families and seniors they are most important to them. They’re an inspiration to all of us.

When Hurricane Harvey ripped through Beaumont, Texas, the city received 27 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. Ava Prescott, who cares for children at the Buckner Assessment Center there, had to wade through waist-high water with her family to reach safety. The hurricane completely destroyed her home.

"All I could do was look at my house," Ava said. "And I said, 'Lord, I have faith in you. Please protect me and my family.' And he did."

Even though she faced the loss of her own home, when Ava received the call that the assessment center was evacuating the children to safety, she made the decision to answer the call to care.

"I hung up the phone, and I burst into tears," Ava said. "But then it's like God said, 'Go take care of those kids that you've been taking care of for five years.' This is my job. This is my calling to work with kids. I just can't turn my back on them. That's why I'm here with them. We are a family." 

When you’ve gone through crises, what’s been important to you? What should be important to you?

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress ..." James 1:27