Singing in the rain

When was the last time you sang in the rain?  When was the last time you played and splashed?  I bet Lisa has done this with her kids in the last year...  How about Donna?

I got this cute story through e-mail today and I thought I would share it with all of you...

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.

"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. 

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!

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Last Sunday it rained like crazy.  I did make up the excuse to go take the food to the compost, and then to pick up tomatoes and corn, and feed the birds...  in reality, I just wanted to get wet in the rain.  I didn't play around, but it was great to feel the rain.

A couple of years ago my wife and I got wet at an outdors Jazz concert.  On the long way to the car we did danced, and played, and splashed in the puddles.  Heaps of fun!  Need to do it again...

When was that last time you sang in the rain?

Comments

[Angie]

On Sunday, instead of going to church, I decided to have my time with God outside...to be a part of God's mighty creation. Well, I looked out... it was raining.. really raining, but then I thought to myself, I cannot stand to be inside another minute longer and not feel the great outdoors, so I put on my raincoat (err...my hubby's raincoat) and went for a walk! It was beautiful..I saw a different way. I felt so cleansed and united with my maker....all I had to do was have some time alone, just go outside and feel the outdoors!

[Meg]

A hard downpour without dangerous lightning is a perfect opportunity to make some memories. We haven't had the opportunity in a while, but my girls and I have had a ball dancing and singing and splashing in the rain.

These city girls need to feel nature on their skin now and then. I take a dirty kid as a sign of good parenting.

Thanks for a fun post.

Meg

[Hector]

Angie and Meg, I'm glad you had the pleasure of playing in the rain!
Meg, I think you are from Chicago. Have you taken the girls to the water park in Millennium Park downtown?

[Meg]

Funny you should ask. Just yesterday I was walking by Millennium Park and telling a friend I'd been wanting to do that all summer and never did. Hopefully next summer.

I spend four days each month working on site for a client right across the street from Millennium Park. I can see the kids splashing from my window. As I told my friend, one of the good things about that location is the sound of children playing while I work.

Meg

[Carmen]

Today our Red Cross Chapter gave a picnic for all the displaced families we have here that were affected by Katrina and Rita. Guess what? Just one hour before it started raining like crazy. My thoughts were that this families didn't need that, that it will remind them of their troubles. Nevertheless we had the most wonderful time. There were laughs and the kids were splashing all around the Park. Now I understand that

Even in the rain we can give support.

Even in the rain we can give friendship.

Even in the rain we can give hope and happiness.

But most important is that even in the rain we can give God's love to the ones suffering.