JOSHUA TIME 294

A Walk In The Rain - E-Mail Ministry> The following is an E-Mail Ministry message. If you are not already a> subscriber and would like to be, please see the bottom of this message.> UNSUBSCRIBE and CHANGE OF ADDRESS information at the end of this e-mail.> > <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><> > A WALK IN THE RAIN> > She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired,> freckled-faced Image of innocence. Her Mom looked like someone from the> Walton's or a moment captured by Norman Rockwell. Not that she was> old-fashioned. Her brown hair was ear length with enough curl to appear> natural. She had on a pair of tan shorts and light blue knit shirt. Her> sneakers were white with a blue trim. She looked like a Mom. It was> pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the tops of rain> gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the Earth it has no time to flow down> the spout. Drains in the nearby parking lot were filled to capacity and> some were blocked so that huge puddles made lakes around parked cars. 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 hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rain fall. 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 her statement.> "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> lets 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 believers who screamed and laughed like children all the way to> their cars. Perhaps inspired by their faith and trust. I want to believe> that somewhere down the road in life, Mom will find herself reflecting> back on moments they spent together, captured like pictures in the> scrapbook of her cherished memories.> > Maybe when she watches proudly as her daughter graduates. Or as her> Daddy walks her down the aisle on her wedding day. She will laugh again.> Her heart will beat a little faster. Her smile will tell the world they> love each other.> > But only two people will share that precious moment when they ran> through the rain believing that God would get them through. And Yes, I> did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.> > To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the> heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1> > -- Author Unknown> > <>< <>< <>< <><