When it rains

I am posting this not because its been raining(which it has)but as a thank you to two special friends, one of whom now lives quite a distance away and the other who came originally from where the former now lives(!) because your friendships mean so much to me, as does your support and encouragement just now.Thank you.

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom.
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 .

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 the opportunities to make memories everyday. To
everything there is a season and a time to every purpose
under heaven.

A friend sent this to me to remind me of life. Hope you
enjoy it.

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.

So my friends I've posted this little story for you. It's a
short message to let you know that I'll never forget you.

Don't get 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!
God makes everything but unbreakable hearts