Faith
RAYS OF FAITH
Joe, Mary and the kids, all four of them and the dog had planned a Saturday of fun in the great outdoors. Saturday morning when they woke up the sky was gray and threatening. Rain was sure to dampen their plans for a fun filled day.
'Well', Mary said to Joe, 'what do you want to do?'
'Looks like rain.' Joe look at the sky through the window as he poured himself a second cup of coffee. 'Maybe we should just stay home and rent some movies.'
'It's early. Maybe it will clear. The kids were so looking forward to this day at the lake. They will be so disappointed if we don't go.' Mary sighed as she washed up the breakfast dishes. 'Maybe the sun is shining at the lake. Have a little faith.'
'The sky looks pretty foreboding and that sky covers a pretty big area, not just over this house. There isn't even a speck of blue out there.'
'Are you saying we shouldn't go,' Mary asked?
'I don't know. God, I so prayed for a nice day.' Joe's voice was heavy with doubt.
'Oh have a little faith.', Mary said. 'If we don't try, the kids will be disappointed, and what if it doesn't rain? We can still fish and have our picnic, build sandcastles, hike along the trails around the lake, even if it is cloudy. And maybe the sun is shining at the lake,' Mary said again. But then, maybe you're right. Maybe we should just stay home.' Disappointment edged her voice too.
'I'm disappointed too,' Joe said as he sat back down at the kitchen table. 'I had so looked forward to fishing with the boys and taking the canoe out on the lake, building sandcastles with the girls. Seems like every time I try to plan something special, some real quality, fun time with my family, either something happens so we can't go, the car breaks down or it rains.'
Mary thought about how disappointed the children would be and what a day cooped up inside with disappointed children would be like. She thought about the brownies she had baked, the potatoe salad she had already made, all the stuff she had already prepared for a picnic feast. She thought about how they had all talked all week long about this day. She thought about all the fun they would have at the lake sharing in and enjoying the wonders of God's creation. It's not raining yet, she thought, only looks like it might. The sun might be shining at the lake, after all they had prayed all week long for a good day and a chance to really share as a family. They had worked hard all week to be sure there were no loose ends to prevent this day from happening. Even the kids had worked extra hard to do their part and help. What was it Jesus taught, that if you have faith, even as small as a mustard seed, you can tell a mountain to be moved and it will be moved. Mary shook her head. This is not going to happen. They were all going to have a good day, a wonderful day as a family at the lake, despite the foreboding mood a gray sky was trying to settle over them. They'd just go and believe the sun would shine.
'Oh have a little faith,' Mary said again, telling Joe what she had been thinking. 'If we don't believe we are going to have a good day then we won't have a good day. 'Anyhow', she grinned, slipping her arms around her husbands neck and kissing him lightly,'You're sweet, but not so sweet you'll melt if a little rain should fall on us. And the kids, they love playing in the rain. Get the cooler out of the storage closet for me, please. By the time we get to the lake the sun will be shining.'
'Think so?' Joe grinned at his wife.
'Of course I do. We prayed about it didn't we. We asked God to provide us with a sunshine day and family blessings. Have a little faith that it is so. You will not get one brownie, or one bite of potatoe salad or one piece of barbeque chicken unless we go to the lake because that is sunshine food and the sun is shining there.' Mary began setting the things she needed to pack up in the cooler on the counter.
Joe headed for the storage closet. 'Hey, you kids', he hollared on his way by the den where all four of them were watching Saturday morning cartoons on the television, 'are you going to lollygag around all morning or are you going to get your stuff together so we can get headed for the lake? Your mother says the sun is shining there. Have a little faith and lets go.'
Mary chuckled to herself as she lifted the watermelon out of the refrigerator and turned to make up a gallon of iced tea and orange-ade. 'Thank You. Lord, for this sunshine day,' she whispered. 'Thank You for my family and this special time we have to share together, for this day of rest, this day to appreciate Your love and Your wonderful creation. Bless this day, Dear Lord.'
They were ready, had the car packed and were on the road to the lake within the hour. They had only been on the road about fifteen minutes when huge drops of rain begain to splatter the windshield. Joe glanced at Mary.
'Have a little faith', she smiled.
'Think so', Joe grinned
'Absolutely, just keep driving.'
'Don't want to turn around?'
'Absolutely not.'
'Hey, it's starting to rain,' one of the boys piped up from the back seat.
'Not at the lake', Mary said.
'Have a little faith,' Joe said as he glanced in the rearview miror.
It was about an hour later that they turned onto the dirt road that lead to the lake. It had rained most of the way there and there were puddles in the road and raindrops still sparkled on the leaves of the trees but overhead the sky was blue with just a few high and wispy clouds. The air was fresh and clean. The sun was indeed shining.
Joe reached across the seat and squeezed Mary's hand. 'You're something else', he grinned. 'Without your faith to believe, mine would be on shakey ground. Have I ever told you how much I appreciate your encouragement?'
'Every day', Mary smiled.
Joe parked the car and everyone helped unload and carry their picnic to a nearby table. That done, four kids, all bubbling with laughter, raced to the beach. They had a wonderful day and it was nearly sunset before they headed home again.
Back home, they had no more than finished unloading the car and taking their things back inside when rain began to fall from a now leaden sky. Lightening flashed and there was a huge clap of thunder.
'What was that', the littlest of the four children asked, grabbing her father's hand?
'God', Joe said, hugging his daughter. 'I think that was God saying I told you so.' He winked at Mary as she headed to the kitchen.
'Thank You, Lord, for this lesson on faith today', Mary said as she put the leftovers away, and thank You for the rain as well."
by Annette (Annie) Bromley
copyright 2006, all rights reserved
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