And Jesus Christ said:

   THEREFORE WHOEVER HUMBLES HIMSELF AS A LITTLE 

   CHILD IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

                             ( MATTHEW 18:4 *NKJV )

A little girl 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 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.

"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!"

Now 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!  ( Ecclesiastes 3:1 )

Now 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.  So, take the time to keep in touch with your

friends, you never know when you'll need each other -- and don't ever

forget "to run in the rain!"    Amen.