Running through the rain

[Guest guest]

She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. 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 Wal-Mart. 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 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 everyday.

> >

> > To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under

> > heaven.

> >

> > A friend sent this to me to remind me of life. Hope you enjoy it

> >

> > 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 to the

> > people

> > you'll never forget. 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

> > and

> > that

> > you've forgotten your friends. Take the time to live!!!

> >

> > * Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each

> > other.*