When It Rains It Pours!

Have you ever felt like, "Man, when it rains, it pours", and you just need some time from the rain to take in the sunshine?!!?

These past couple of weeks have just been two of those weeks! So many times in our lives we get caught up in the humdrum of life and all it's complications and don't stop to reflect what's going on until we've HAD IT! And we end up throwing our hands in the air screaming to the heavens "Whoa, Whoa, WHOA God!! What is the deal?"

So... two days ago was that breaking point for me. And it just so happened to come in the form of a car crash. That's right. I totaled my mother-in-law's buick as I rushed into work-running late as usual! I spent half of the day at the hospital, making sure Hope and Grace were ok. Thankfully, my belly has so much fluid, it was a perfect little air bag for them. I too was ok, a little sore from the seat belt or the air bags deploying around my tummy, but thankfully no one was hurt.

So while spending 4 hours in the hospital, and the rest of the day on the couch I just thought to myself, "Lord, why can't we just catch a break?? I mean it IS St. Patrick's Day and I wore green for Pat's Sake! So... no luck?"

I just broke down.

"Lord, I am so tired! Chris is so tired. We feel the stress and worry of the Girls, of work, of bills etc... and now - a totaled car??!! What is going on Lord? Please!"

Why continue the rain, when I am drenched? In fact, we are all drenched? We are all tired?

And then I realize, I need this rain! We all need the rain. What happens when a flower does not get water, when farmer's experience a drought, when we run hard but do not drink? This water/rain is the way to life. I do not like the rain because I would much rather have the sun shining on my face everyday. Of course, what I am meaning to say is, I do not like the difficulties, the change of plans, the inconveniences, the pain! I would much rather be showered with good luck, things going my way-the way I have always planned, and just things that make me happy. But we all have been there. We have all had things go our way for a time, live superficially, filling ourselves up with emptiness. And then what happens? We are thirsty. WE THIRST.

But if this is how it were-to have no pain ever- then how would we ever realize what blessings are real, what truly makes us happy, what makes us - US, what quenches this THIRST? This downpour will subside! But I need this rain to make me live again. To wash me and make me clean. I need the water to help me grow and become stronger and more beautiful me. This water will give me new life.

I am but one of many flowers the God has planted. He nourishes me daily with the sun (my faith), he talks to me and tells me how beautiful I am and gives me warmth ( my husband and children ), he gives me the company of many other flowers just like me ( my family and friends ) and he gives me the rain to shower me with love, to purify my heart, to make me clean so that I may better receive the Son again and appreciate it - Jesus.