Playing in the Rain
Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good,
and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts
with food and gladness.
Acts 14:17
She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-
faced image of innocence. Her Mom looked like someone from the
Walton's or a moment captured by Norman Rockwell. Not that she
was old-fashioned. Her brown hair was ear-length with enough curl to
appear natural. She had on a pair of tan shorts and light-blue knit
shirt. Her sneakers were white with a blue trim. She looked like a
Mom.
It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the tops of
rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the Earth it has no time to flow
down the spout. Drains in the nearby parking lot were filled to capacity
and some were blocked so that huge puddles formed lakes around parked
cars.
We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the
Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature
messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rain fall. I get
lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and
dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a
child come pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my
day.
Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all
caught in. "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said.
"What?" Mom asked.
"Let's run through the rain!" she repeated.
"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.
This young child waited about another minute and repeated her
statement. "Mom. Let's run through the rain."
"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.
"No we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young
girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.
"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"
"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his
cancer, you said, "If God can get us through this, He can get us
through anything!"
The entire crowd stopped dead silent, the sound of the rain was
nearly deafening. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next
few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she
would say.
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might
even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a
young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that
it will bloom into faith.
"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If God
allows us to get wet, maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.
Then off they ran.
We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the
cars and yes through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over
their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a
few believers who screamed and laughed like children all the way to
their cars . . . perhaps inspired by their faith and trust.
I want to believe that some where down the road in life, Mom will find
herself reflecting back on moments they spent together, captured like
pictures in the scrapbook of her cherished memories. Maybe when
she watches proudly as her daughter graduates. Or as her Daddy
walks her down the aisle on her wedding day.
She will laugh again. Her heart will beat a little faster. Her smile will
tell the world they love each other. But only two people will share that
precious moment when they ran through the rain believing that God
would get them through.
And Yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.
For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and
bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth
blessing from God:
Hebrews 6:7
[ Author Unknown -- from Charlotte ]
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