Hi Virgie,

That was totally beautiful.

I loved it.

Thanks for sharing.

Love you,
Pat Ferguson

At 11:36 PM 6/17/2006, you wrote:
>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 l ittle 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 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 bloo m in to 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.
>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 day to love them, but then an entire 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!!!
>Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need 
>each other -- and
>don't forget to run in the rain!
>=
>Check out AOL.com today
>. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM. All on 
>demand. Always Free.