After the Rain

It’s been a rainy week. In Texas, this means it has rained for approximately 6.2 minutes over a span of 3 days, and it is a novelty here.

 “Can we play out in the rain?” the kids begged as it started to downpour again.

“No,” I replied quickly. “It’s lightning out.”

 After a few minutes, the lightning stopped and within a few minutes the kids were in their swim clothes, jumping in puddles, filling up cups with streams from the gutter and yelling “IT’S RAINING!” as loud as they could. Because, obviously when it rains, you have to scream loudly for the full effect. 

Because of the rain, the weather cooled off a little at night so we’ve been sitting in the driveway, letting the kids ride bikes and trying to keep our toes from being eaten by fire ants.

Don't you play outside at night in your boxers?

Learning to ride a 2-wheeler. I remember when I learned how to ride, and now I have a child old enough to do this?

Brooke started attending Music Class at our Christian school once a week, and I’m really thankful for this opportunity. She eats lunch with the First Grader’s and spends a few hours in their class doing quiet activities until Music starts. It’s definitely a highlight in her week!

This past week, 2 different couples I know through Facebook lost their daughters at age 2 and 3. One nearly drowned last year and remained in a coma until she woke up and saw Jesus' face. The other battled a horrible, rare disease until she graduated to Heaven where she is now playing, talking and laughing and Jesus’ feet. News like this really knocks the wind out of me. Both sets of parents have incredible testimonies of faith and are amazingly strong, as they’ve endured what I cannot fathom, but I wonder how they cope? My life is perfect. Absolutely perfect, and I can's even begin to grasp going through something so crushing.

  All we can do is rally around these suffering people, pray for them, cry for them and appreciate the little things our children do each day. When they arch their back trying to wiggle out of your arms in protest, be thankful that they have the muscle strength to do so. When their whines escalate to screams, rejoice in their strong lungs. When they unfold fresh laundry piece by piece, be amazed that their brain is communicating with their arms to complete such a task. When they spit out food they don’t like, appreciate the fact that you are feeding them with a spoon and not through a feeding tube. I think that is what these Parents would want us to do: appreciate the things we see as obstacles, and as always, love more, hug more, cuddle more, enjoy more.

After the rain comes the rainbow, God's reminder to us that he keeps his promises. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. This is the hope we cling to.