Living the Simple Life

Need Washing?

NEED WASHING??  
A little g irl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. 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 Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritate d 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 th e 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 fo llowed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their c ars.

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 d ay to love them, but then an ent ir e life to forget them. Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to also send it to the person who sent it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them.

If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry.

Take the time to live!!!

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. -- Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

Untitled Comment

11:07, Tuesday, July 15, 2008 .. Posted by gabbie427

What a wonderful story!!! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

Years ago, I was at my parents house, and we were all sitting on the back covered porch when it started raining hard! Just big huge wet drops! I teased that I used to love to walk in the rain when I was younger, and mom and dad chided me to go play in the rain. It took a little more teasing, but I finally kicked off my shoes, and leaped off the porch and into the rain. I remember jumping up and down in the mid puddles and making a mess out of the back yard while mom and dad laughed nad giggled watching me, still dry on the porch. My hair was long, and completely soaked, and when I got back up on the porch, I slung it around spraying both of my parents in a mist of droplets! We went inside to fix supper, and dad offered me a tshirt and sweatshirt that were his, as well as his favorite ble sweatpants. I changed into his clothes, tossed mine into the dryer and went to help mom fix supper, and they were both talking about how much that had made them smile to see me jumping in the water and acting like a little girl again!! LOL

It is still a wonderful memory for me. That happened years and years ago now, about ten maybe?? Mom and dad are both in heaven now, but this is still a wonderful moment I will never forget when thinking about them, or playing in the rain.

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo