A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. 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 Wal-Mart.

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 come
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 promise you, 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.