Do you need washing? (cc)

[Tree House Academy]

This was so sweet, I just had to share. :)

 

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been about 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring down rain 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.

 

"Lets 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...

 

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. Send this to the people you'll never forget. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never 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! God Bless :o)

[Kathleen in VA]

Thanks, Rebecca, that was precious.:)

[jpklehm]

Good reminder...loved it. Thanks for sharing!

[mama2cntrykids]

So sweet! You made me tear up, lol (not that it's hard to do mind you, lol).

[Catwoman]

It brought tears to my eyes, too. Maybe we should all say a quick prayer for that family and for the dad's recovery.

 

Cat

[i.love.lucy]

I have a friend who is a homeschooling mom of 4 and pg with her 5th. Her dh has stage 4 metastatic melanoma and is 36 years old. He has been in treatment for a couple of weeks in a new clinical trial, but now has to stop because something isn't responding right and his tumors are growing too rapidly. I fear he will not live to see his new baby in September.

 

36. years. old.

 

Not trying to be a big ol' Debbie Downer, but please do hug those kids tight and run in the rain if they want to!

 

:grouphug:

[swellmomma]

I was sent that in an email about a year ago, and it still makes me tear up when I read it.

[Tree House Academy]

I have a friend who is a homeschooling mom of 4 and pg with her 5th. Her dh has stage 4 metastatic melanoma and is 36 years old. He has been in treatment for a couple of weeks in a new clinical trial, but now has to stop because something isn't responding right and his tumors are growing too rapidly. I fear he will not live to see his new baby in September.

 

36. years. old.

 

Not trying to be a big ol' Debbie Downer, but please do hug those kids tight and run in the rain if they want to!

 

:grouphug:

 

I know this sort of thing all too well. My best friend is a nurse for a dermatologist. The stories she tells me about melanoma are just frightening! The last patient they had that died of melanoma was a 29 year old mother of two. She had what she thought was a blood blister on her heel for almost a year. Finally, she went to a podiatrist because it was starting to get larger. The podiatrist immediately biopsied it and it was stage 4 melanoma with metastasis to the brain, liver, and lungs. She lived 3 months after the diagnosis.

[Amy+2]

Amazing and thought provoking post...lifting all of the aforementioned, precious families up in prayer now!:grouphug:

[OneRoomSchoolHouse]

My father died of skin cancer when I was 4 years old. My parents took me to Disney World as our last family vacation before he went in to full treatment. I have one memory of my mom pointing up at a roller coaster where my Dad was. I think because of the sadness I endured, I am able to cherish my children so much more.

[eaglei]

Thanks for sharing - it made me tear up - it is SO true - take time while you have it with those precious to you. As mom to a two-time cancer SURVIVOR, who is currently undergoing chemo, I can say God DOES get you through - and DO definitely run in the rain!