Don't forget to run in the rain!
A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must
have been 6 years old, this beautiful red 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 Target.
We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature
messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall.
I got 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 came pouring in as a welcome reprieve
from the worries of my day.
The little 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.
"Lets 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 everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to
every purpose under heaven.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to
appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to
forget them. Send this to the people you'll never forget and
remember to also send it to the person who sent it to you.
It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them.
If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry.
Take the time to live!!!
Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need
each other -- and don't forget to run in the rain!
