I haven't done a real blog in quite awhile and ran across an email that reminded me I was past due for one.
I am pretty sure everyone has seen the email that I am sharing, as I had already seen it several times, but the meaning of it is something that always needs to be reminded.
I woke up this morning and ran through my morning routine in a quick state, trying not to be late... hugged my kids and took them to school, drove to work, blah blah, you all know the routines... but did I really get anything out of it? Did I pause to appreciate my kids, to make sure they FELT my love?
We live in a fast paced world, that gets faster everyday. I think we all need to be reminded everyday that no matter how bad of a day it seems, or how hard the hard knocks of life are hitting us each day... there is always positives to be found. There are always friends out there we have but may not realize just how much they indeed truly care or worry about us.
So everybody please stop and smell the roses. Take a minute to tell your friends and family that you do in fact love them. Take a moment to be thankful for what you do have, as little as it may be, you still have something... while others who are not with us, do not have that luxury.
RUN THROUGH THE RAIN...
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 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 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.
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.
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!
