Encouragement

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A Lesson Learned
© 2007

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Traveling west on Interstate 40 on a bright sunlight Oklahoma afternoon, Renea Birney was surprised to see raindrops suddenly hit her windshield. At first it was just a few drops. But within a matter of seconds, a heavy spring-like rain came down. So hard, in fact, that she had to pull over on the side of the road because she could no longer see in front of her.

Then Renea noticed a woman and her very young child on a bicycle. They were riding along the side of the highway in full view of the Shawnee, Oklahoma mall on either side of them. As Renea turned up here windshield wipers to get a better look at them, the mother and child appeared to be enjoying themselves in the downpour. Renea could see she was getting soaked but still she appeared to be enjoying the ride. The mother began to laugh. Watching her mother, the child began laughing as well. With her arms in the air, she appeared to enjoy the rain shower along with her mother. They weren’t in a hurry at all! The mother pedaled slowly, as if to stay in the rare Oklahoma cloudburst.

As Renea motored toward Oklahoma City, she looked back into her rearview mirror and thought: “My aren’t they having such fun!
The unexpected downpour didn’t ruin a mother’s outing with her daughter. The rainstorm simply brought added fun for the mother and child.

Is it not interesting how a serendipitous encounter would cause deeper consideration of our relationship with God? Driving down Interstate 40, Renea imagined herself a child on a bicycle with Jesus Christ. Jesus is doing the pedaling and guiding. His strong arms encircle her giving strength, His presence and protection against the storms of life.

It was at that moment Renea decided to relax and trust in Him when she goes through her next unexpected storm—even if she got all wet or had to suffer some discomfort in the meantime.

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