I have to close out my goodies, because I have got Virus's and Trojar Horse Sara Hackler ----- Original Message ----- From: <JSowder@aol.com> To: <Down-Home-Chatter-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2000 6:25 AM Subject: [DHC] THE RAIN > The Rain > > > > > > I speak. That's how I get to meet the most incredible people. But > > sometimes just listening from afar is enough to fill my heart. I don't > > always need to say hello to bring a perfect stranger into my life. > > Conversations overheard are lessons in life sometimes even more powerful > > than those we are a part of. This brief encounter filled my day to > > capacity. If only they knew the gift they gave me. > > > > She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckled > > faced image of innocence. Her Mom looked like someone from the Waltons > > 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 laked around parked > > cars. > > > > We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the > > Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others aggravated 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 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 some where 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. > > > > Yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. > > > > > Author Unknown to me... > Hope you enjoyed this...Jeannette in Marion Co. > > > ==== Down-Home-Chatter Mailing List ==== > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/1724/buddies.html > >