My daughter’s favorite teacher at school is her music teacher. Recently, her music teacher had surgery. My daughter explained they made cards for her at school. I asked how she decorated the card. Her response was profound. “On the front I drew a heart because I wanted her to know that I love her. Then inside I drew a giant heart, three crosses on a hill will some grass. I also wrote, “Get well soon. We love you!” I drew the heart and the crosses because Jesus love is bigger than my love. He died for us, and loves us always. Then on the back I drew a sun, a rainbow, some clouds and some rain. Because after all you can’t have a rainbow with out some clouds, some rain, and some sun.”
What huge truth bomb! Sometimes in life we only s
ee the rain or the clouds. Monsoon season.
Story time with Kayla: My family recently moved out to the country. We live in an area with a very high water table. In fact our water table is so high, our property is covered in crawfish; close to the pond, in the middle of our fields, and even beside our driveway. This past year, it rained and rained and rained. Our road needed some work, and was filled with pot holes. Each time it rained the driveway would fill with water. One of the pot holes was 8 inches deep and 8 feet long. It wreaked havoc on the suspension in my vehicle. We dreaded every time it would rain. Every clap of thunder conjured up the images of the mud we would track in, the number of times we would have to mop the floors, and of course the dreaded number of dog baths to be given. Each time it rained we would have to wear mud boots to get into the car. And when it rained the mud would last long beyond the rain making the torture continue on and on.
Finally, the puddles and mud would dry. Several times we won contests for the dirtiest vehicle. We won because who is going to waste money on washing a car when it will just be dirty the next time you drive down the driveway? The verdant lushness of our fields and the beautiful scenery around the pond would make the rain worth it.
How many times in our lives do we focus on the rain, the clouds, the cacophonous thunder, the bright lightning, the fear inducing storms? Most of the storms I have experienced in my lifetime have been loud ones. Rarely does it rain here gently and softly. Everything is bigger in Texas, even the storms. Living through many years of tornado season in north Texas gives you a healthy appreciation of the weather. As a teen, one of the most costly tornadoes hit the towns around where I lived. Neighbors’ trampolines, chimneys, and fences ended up several streets away, and downtown of a local city was demolished. It took years to repair all the damage. Thankfully, the storm system was only costly in dollars and only a few lives were lost.
When you live in a place where storms are frequent, you learn how to be prepared. You gather supplies: radio, bottled water, first aid kit, nonperishable foods, a go bag, and shoes among other things. You determine where a safe place is to weather the storms. You have drills to practice safe procedures in case of an emergency. You do as much as you can to prepare yourself and your family.
What do you do about storms in your daily life? You know, monsoon season. We have all been there; rough patches, lost jobs, deaths, challenges with kids, tough coworkers, illnesses, surgeries, you name it. Storms are times of testing. Fear, anxiety, and stress all run high. Do you focus so hard on the storm you forget to look at the joy that comes afterward? The beauty in the verdant well watered land. The renewed strength during the times of peace. The personal and spiritual growth. You can’t have rainbows without clouds, rain, and sunshine.
Kayla World 