She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful
brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that
gushesover the top of raingutters, 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 all waited, some patiently,others irritated, 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 allcaught 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. 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 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. 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 every day!
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.