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!
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