Run Through The Rain

She had been shopping with her Mom in Walmart.  She must

have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle

faced image of innocence.  It was pouring outside.

The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so

much in a hurry to hit the Earth it has no time to flow

down the spout.

We all stood there under the awning and just inside the

door of the Walmart. We waited, some patiently, others

irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.  I am

always mesmerized by rainfall.  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: "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.  I swear you

couldn't hear anything but the rain.  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 let's us get wet, well 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 who screamed and

laughed like children all the way to their cars.  And yes,

I did.  I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material

possessions, they can take away your money, and they

can take away your health.  But no one can

ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget

to make time and take the opportunities to make

memories every day!  

To everything there is a season and a time 

to every purpose under heave.

(Author Unknown)