Raindrops

 No bones about it. I hate yucky freezing cold gray rain. My only consolation in the ending of sweet sunny days is the start of fuzzy sweaters, yummy boots, chocolate baked goods fresh from the oven, storytime by the fireplace, and awesome choir rehearsals.

Two mornings ago as I hurried to get all the children out the door to school, it was pouring, drenching rain in an early thunderstorm. I got a sleepy Audrey out of her bed, changed her diaper and carried her downstairs through the house and she said, "Mommy it raining," and I was feeling bad about needing to carry her outside through the pouring rain to our detached garage where the empty van was waiting for kids to pile in. I walked through the kitchen listening to water dumping on the roof, bracing myself, and then I stepped outside with my warm pink bundle and a magical thing happened. It was as if the heavens had suddenly turned off the faucet. It was incredible. I carried Audrey to the car completely dry, not one drop from the sky touched her, and buckled her in, then walked back to the house to get the older children just as it started to sprinkle again. 

That same day, not knowing anything about that experience, my sweet friend Amy (whose daughter Aliyah has been such an inspiration to us) felt moved to share this beautiful song with me, "Blessings" by Laura Story Sometimes just when I start to forget, I receive the most beautiful reminders that there is more to the pattern in our experiences than we recognize.

"Blessings"

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise