Playing in the Rain
What is it about our life as adults that keeps us from delighting in simple joys we used to love as children?
Yesterday was moving day (well, day 1 of several moving days...). Lots of furniture, lots of boxes, lots of sweat and hard work. But at the end of the day, a summer rainstorm blew in, cooling the air and making everything clean. Our kids had helped during the day and were now at Grandma and Grandpa's house, enjoying an evening with them. Which meant that Liam, my two-year old nephew, no longer had his cousins around to entertain him. Just six tired adults who weren't feeling especially playful.
As the rain started, Liam was excited to watch it blow across the pond, and to feel the drops on his head. "Me play rain?" he would ask. "Momma play rain? Wésh (as he calls me) play rain?"
It would have been easiest to just stay in our chairs, sitting on the porch, watching the rain where we were comfy and dry, but we would have missed the joy and beauty of that moment that was put before us. Yes, it was cold and we were tired. But it was worth it. Watching Liam's face, full of wonder and excitement at this beautiful gift of rain, was worth it. Why do we so often want to make the easy choice in life, instead of the choice that will bring delight to our souls? Clouds and rain will inevitably come into our lives, and things don't often go as planned, but there are always puddles in which to splash.
Yesterday was moving day (well, day 1 of several moving days...). Lots of furniture, lots of boxes, lots of sweat and hard work. But at the end of the day, a summer rainstorm blew in, cooling the air and making everything clean. Our kids had helped during the day and were now at Grandma and Grandpa's house, enjoying an evening with them. Which meant that Liam, my two-year old nephew, no longer had his cousins around to entertain him. Just six tired adults who weren't feeling especially playful.
As the rain started, Liam was excited to watch it blow across the pond, and to feel the drops on his head. "Me play rain?" he would ask. "Momma play rain? Wésh (as he calls me) play rain?"
It would have been easiest to just stay in our chairs, sitting on the porch, watching the rain where we were comfy and dry, but we would have missed the joy and beauty of that moment that was put before us. Yes, it was cold and we were tired. But it was worth it. Watching Liam's face, full of wonder and excitement at this beautiful gift of rain, was worth it. Why do we so often want to make the easy choice in life, instead of the choice that will bring delight to our souls? Clouds and rain will inevitably come into our lives, and things don't often go as planned, but there are always puddles in which to splash.
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