short story

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!"

Now 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 the opportunities
to make memories everyday. To Everything There Is A Season And
A Time To Every Purpose Under Heaven! ( Ecclesiastes 3:1 )

Now 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. So now, take the time to keep in touch with your
friends, you never know when you'll need each other -- and don't ever
forget "to run in the rain!" Amen.
Author --Bob Perks