> > 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 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!
> >
> > COME ON !!! LETS RUN IN THE RAIN & STOMP IN THE PUDDLES...
> > GOD LOVES YOU & SO DO I....HAVE A SUPER DAY!!!!!
