Here Comes the Rain Again.....

"She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her away, she readjusted her sails."

Elizabeth Edwards, Attorney

As I write this morning, the news of the hour includes the flash flood watch and imminent storms headed this way.  For so many across the nation, rain has become an integral part of daily life.  Heavy rains and flooding seem woven into the backdrop of a messy, soggy, muddy fall.

When we moved my daughter to Auburn, Alabama in August, it rained from Texas to Alabama and all stops in between.  My husband worked tirelessly to cover all of her belongings in the back of the F150 pickup.  The tarps, ties and cords kept everything completely dry until we reached Alabama.

When my sister and I recently visited Auburn for family weekend, the skies opened up and the bottom fell out during the football game.  We stayed completely dry until we had to make the long walk to the parking garage.

Word of God Speak, a song by the band Mercy Me, remains one of my favorite Christian songs of all time.  The chorus encourages one to see falling rain in a different way:

Word of God speak, 

Would you pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see

Your majesty.

Today, I am praising God as these rainy day adventures allowed me to see Him.  In the hours after we arrived in Alabama, a literal monsoon forced us to transfer all of Taylor's belongings from the back of her truck to the inside of a small rental car.  Running, laughing, cramming, reorganizing and reloading filled those moments.  Thank you, Jesus for the countless ways our family worked together as a team.  Thank you for the gift of family when you need one another's help the most.

As my sister, daughter and I made our way from the stadium to the car, the rain came down harder.  The wind howled all around us.  I know that everything is bigger in Texas.  However, on this day, my hair was 10X bigger in Alabama!  We learned that ponchos work great until cars come flying by.  We learned that it is easier to walk in high water with no shoes on your feet.  In our trek across campus, the three of us laughed harder than we may have ever laughed before.  My sister and I splashed through puddles just like we did when we were young.  During our long walk to the car, His Majesty reminded me to pause with an overwhelming heart of gratitude.  Thank you, Jesus for every opportunity I have to simply "do life" with these people. May I always cherish these tender moments.

We all find ourselves in messy, muddy, sloppy seasons of life.  Sometimes, we have our ponchos, our umbrellas and fancy rain boots.  Many times, our rain gear and color-coordinated accessories are not enough to protect us.  What a beautiful reality that He is enough...all the time!  I grew up hearing these words often:  "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain."  Today, gather your strength.  Lean into your courage.  Be brave as you face the rain.  Learn to praise Him while you're there.  Amen.