Run Through the Rain
She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. 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
Wal-Mart. 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. Time, when innocent trust can be nurtured and
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
heaven. I hope you still take the time to run through the rain.