Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The storm that raged through Pike County  Sunday night left a trail of uprooted trees and snapped limbs all throughout the towns and across the countryside.

On Monday, Dr. David Dye and his wife, Judy, began the overwhelming task of removing the limbs and debris left in the storm’s wake.

As the couple carried the limbs from two felled pine trees and other debris  to the street, four young women were walking their way.

“Are you looking for work,” Dye asked in a joking way. Not to his surprise, the young women said they were not looking for work but, quickly and to Dye’s surprise and delight, offered to help with the work at hand.

The young women identified themselves as members of the Troy University soccer team. One of them is the manager and one is from Canada.

“Those young women jump right in and worked picking up pine tree limb and carrying them to street,” Dye said. “They worked until they were sweaty and tired and still didn’t quit.”

Dye offered the young women his tonic for tired and aching muscles – pickle juice. However, water does wonders for young muscles. “They offered to their help again if needed and we were so appreciative of their willingness to help,” Dye said.

“Judy sent them home with a basket of cookies and other treats as another way of saying, ‘thank you’ for your good will.”

But, about that time, Kristy Drinkwater and her children, Lola and Joe, came around the corner to help carry the pines to the street.

And, then along came the Rev. Rick Holbert, the minister at the Presbyterian Church  and his family, wife Jen and daughter Emma.

David and Judy Dye first had been overwhelmed by the task of clearing the debris left behind by the Sunday night storm. Then, they were overwhelmed by the caring and willing sprits of those who came to lend a helping hand.

On Monday night, Dye said he was bothered by cramping muscles, some that he didn’t even know he had. As he sat sipping from the pickle jar, he and his wife shared the humbleness in being on the receiving end of so much good in the midst of tragedy.

“You sometimes forget how good people are until there is a tragedy, then it all comes back to you – the good will of people of all ages.”

Dye said even through the storms of life, good things happen and through people are blessed.

X