Dancing in the rain

Today's random thought started with a status update on facebook from one of my young friends. After last night's deluge, she simply posted: "Anyone who says that sunshine only brings happiness has never danced in the rain." As I commented back to her - Now THAT will preach!

Her comment struck that chord inside me that reverberated into some long forgotten song and I realized, I've forgotten how to dance in the rain....or perhaps I've been through such a long difficult time, I've hidden myself away indoors trying to avoid the storm.

It's not the times when everything is wonderful that brings joy. Oh, it does bring happiness and I'm all for a little happiness! Still, it's those times when you've had to hold on to hope with every ounce of faith you have and then the showers of blessing begin to fall. THAT'S when you know real happiness and joy.

This has been a tough couple of years for my family. We've had each other and we've known that God has been with us through it all....but I'd be lying if I said it had been easy. Family trials, disappointment, discouragement - they all make for some pretty dry times. Somewhere in it all, laughter began to fade as well and a grim, determined frown took its place. Then came the rain. Not some gentle soft rain, but a soak you to your bones kind of rain! Puddles are everywhere! Rain. The dry brown earth all around gives way to hope and new life. Rain! The trees and flowers reach up to heaven and sing for joy. RAIN! It is the promise of a new tomorrow.

Lord, our spirits have needed the rain and now we rejoice in it. We sing and dance in it. We splash in the puddles that surround us! Once again we remember the joy of being a child and simply feeling the rain. "Mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead."

Thank you God for the rain. It's time we put on our boots and danced!

1 Kings 18:41-46 [Message]"41 Elijah said to Ahab, "Up on your feet! Eat and drink—celebrate! Rain is on the way; I hear it coming."

42-43 Ahab did it: got up and ate and drank. Meanwhile, Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bowed deeply in prayer, his face between his knees. Then he said to his young servant, "On your feet now! Look toward the sea."
He went, looked, and reported back, "I don't see a thing."
"Keep looking," said Elijah, "seven times if necessary."
44 And sure enough, the seventh time he said, "Oh yes, a cloud! But very small, no bigger than someone's hand, rising out of the sea." "Quickly then, on your way. Tell Ahab, 'Saddle up and get down from the mountain before the rain stops you.'"
45-46 Things happened fast. The sky grew black with wind-driven clouds, and then a huge cloudburst of rain, with Ahab hightailing it in his chariot for Jezreel. And God strengthened Elijah mightily. Pulling up his robe and tying it around his waist, Elijah ran in front of Ahab's chariot until they reached Jezreel.

Joel 2: 22 - 26 [NIV] " Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.  The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.  “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm my great army that I sent among you.  You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed.