On Using Your Influence.

Today I visited my third destroyed Alabama town.

I thought that as I exposed myself more to the devastation of our state, I would become more used to it and less affected by the destruction, but I was wrong. With each successive visit, I've become more deeply saddened for our state.

Henegar was my first visit. Pratt City was my second. Today was Pleasant Grove.

Two sights from today's visit will be forever burned in my mind:

Two elderly couples, gingerly picking around the rubble that used to be their houses, looking for belongings (on the hill in the far background of this image out of respect for their privacy):

And a blue bow on a mailbox, perfectly intact, in front of a house that was not nearly as untouched.

The knowledge that that could have easily been my baby had the storms been just a few miles east is horrific to imagine and compels me to pray that this baby is miraculously safe.

I simultaneously feel emotionally exhausted, wanting to step away for a while, and like I must do so much more - because there is so much that needs to be done.

National Media quit covering our tragedy two days after it happened – A Royal Wedding took the headlines, then the death of Osama Bin Laden sealed the death of our news coverage.

But we as bloggers still have our voice. We can get the message out to the world that Alabama still needs help, and that all of us working together can make a difference.

So I urge you – one blogger to another – make your influence count! Do what you can to help our neighbors that have lost everything!

I highly recommending serving somewhere if you haven’t already, and then showing your readers how they can help.

There are so many opportunities for service, and so many needs to be met. I have personally been overwhelmed by my blog reader’s desire to help – they have responded amazingly to all of the opportunities I have given them.

One very practical option you can offer your readers to help is ordering off of the Christian Service Mission’s Amazon Wish List . One of our brilliant Alabama Bloggers, Beth from Unskinny Boppy, set it up. It’s a great way to meet the immediate needs of the moment, and know that 100% of your donations are going straight to relief efforts.

There are many options out there, so give your readers different ways to help. Show them how their funds are going to help immediate needs, and let them (and you) get involved in serving our state – because we need every hand on deck right now!

Yes, Alabama has come a long way in a few weeks – but the distance we still have to travel will require statewide – and countrywide – dedication.