She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beaut
iful brown haired,freckle-faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of ra
in 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 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.H
er voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, “Mom, let's r
un through the rain." she said."What?" Mom asked."Let's run through the rain!" She repeate
d."No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit." Mom replied.This young child waited a
bout another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain.""We'll get soaked if w
e 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 t
he rain and not get wet?""Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his can
cer, you said,If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"The entire c
rowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood si
lently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment a
bout what she would say.Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some mi
ght even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's lif
e. Time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith."Honey, you a
re absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If get wet, well maybe we just needed was
hing." Mom said. Then off they ran.We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they dar
ted past the cars and. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They g
ot 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 peo
ple can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can t
ake away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories. So, don't forg
et 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 ru
n through the rain.