Dirty Washing

Recently my Aunt sent me the story below in a email. She did not know, well still doesn't know the effect the story had on me and how the timing was perfect.

"A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in K-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.

It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the K-Mart.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerised by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, 'Mom let's run through the rain,' she said.
'What?' Mom asked.
'Let's run through the rain!' She repeated.
'No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mom replied.
This child waited a minute and repeated: 'Mom, let's run through the rain..'
'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mom said.
'No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning,' the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.
'This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?'
'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ' If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! '

The entire crowd stopped dead silent.. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain.. We all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

'Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,' Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked.
They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven."

This is going to get pretty personal...but I just found out my Mom doesn't have long to live because of her cancer. She has had chemo for almost 2 years and was told it is not working anymore and has grown. This story helped.

Proverbs 3:5-6 has been running through my brain non-stop because of this..."Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

We all get "dirty" in life through trials and sin. I had a fun time getting physically dirty this weekend, but as I participated in the race I pondered repentance, the atonement, and trusting in the Lord regardless of the circumstance. I know that if I truly put all my trust in the Lord things will be okay. He really will direct my paths because of the atonement. That atonement made it possible for us to conquer death, sin, and pretty much everything else. So as we get dirty I am going to try to remember to have the faith of a child, or in this case the little girl at Kmart, and trust in that washing!