Of Heaven and Rainbows

In January of 2010, after my brother died, I was blessed by the promise of the rainbow; I blogged about it here: After the Rain

Four weeks ago, after a month of ups and downs regarding our oldest daughter’s health, we were told she had, maybe, two days to live.

Once again, it was raining in Oregon; big blustery sheets of rain.
I prayed for sunshine. I wanted to send Sarah home to her Father in Heaven on a sunny spring day; I wanted to remember her in the sunshine.

Yet the rain continued.

As we sat with her, listening to her labored breathing, bathing her face with a warm cloth, I kept silently praying for sunshine.
It was not to be.

As Sarah slipped from her earthly tabernacle, the damp and bluster continued.
At one point, I was being hugged by another daughter, when I looked up and, ever so faintly, spied a rainbow. It wasn’t as grand and bright as the rainbow two years ago; just a faint, quiet reminder of the Lord’s promise.

The Lord knew I didn’t need sunshine and blue skies to make me stronger; He knew I needed to be reminded that the rain would end; that strength comes, not from what we want, but from what we gain from what we get.

The Lord’s promises are sure; He will not leave us in the rain. He gives us miracles, I believe, on a daily basis; we just have to be watching for them.

After the Rain

If you read my other blog My Book of Common Days you know of the heartache and anguish my family has experienced recently from this post Life's Speed Bumps. It has caused quite a bit of reflection; I hope my thoughts can be helpful to someone out there.

It's been pouring all morning, matching the rain that's falling in my heart. I looked up a moment ago, and saw a beautiful rainbow; I know without a doubt, as the Spirit whispered to me, that this is a promise for me as well; the rain will end.

The Lord doesn't promise me sunny skies and smooth sailing; on the contrary. I know that there must be opposition in all things. I have been buffeted by high winds and rolling waves, yet my faith has been my anchor.

I can't say I'm happy yet; I can't say when the rain will stop. I can however, say that I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and that through all of this, I have felt His hands lift me, enabling me to be stronger than I thought I could be.

Each of us has the power to choose; to choose to be lifted up or to choose to wallow in grief. I even think we are allowed to wallow just a bit; just don't wallow too long, you might miss the rainbows.