Let’s Run Through the Rain

(Category: Journey Through Faith)

A young girl had been shopping with her mom in Walmart.  She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful read hared, freckle-faced image of innocence.

It was pouring outside, the kind of rain that gushes over the top of the gutter, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has not 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 hectic day.

Everyone was mesmerized by the rainfall.  They 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 the day.

Her voice was so sweet that it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in.  “Mom, let’s run through the rain.”

“What?” mom asked.

“Let’s run through the rain!” she repeated.

“No, honey.  We’ll wait until it slows down a bit.”

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 mother’s arm.

“This morning?” When did I say that 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.  You couldn’t hear anything but the rain.  Everyone stood silently.  No one came or left in the next few minutes.  Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she could say.  Now, some would laugh if off or scold her for being silly.  Some might even ignore what was being 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’re absolutely right.  Let’s run through the rain.  If God lets us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing,” mom said.

Then off they ran.  Everyone 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.  They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

See All Posts »

Like this article? Share it:

• Let's Connect: