We are done shopping and the rain is still coming down, but not as hard as before. You can see the sky slowly clearing and the sun setting in the west. I decided to take my daughter with me outside, stay under the canopy, watch the rain and wait for the sky to clear. She came out with me and looked at the sky. Her legs jerked with excitement and her eyes and arms were wide open to the sky. As the rain calmed to a walkable drizzle, I opened up my umbrella and started to walk toward my car. You can see and hear the chaos around in the parking lot. People running to their cars, upset that their hair is a mess from the rain, cussing because their clothes got wet, or upset because they had to run to their cars instead of lazily walking like they do on a clear day. No one seemed happy. No one, that is, except my daughter. In all that chaos, I took my first step toward my car. It seemed as if we were all alone when we walked. I don't remember anyone being around us. It was just me, my daughter, and the rain from Heaven.
I wondered how she would handle the rain, thunder and lightning, seeing the sky so different than she's seen before. Instead of a frightened look, or a cry from fear or unhappiness, I heard something from her that will stay with me forever. In my first step I wondered what her emotions would be and in a split second I heard it - the combination of the beautiful soft sound of rain as it hit the ground and the purest form of laughter from my daughter. She looked up at the sky and giggled with the greatest joy. She closed her eyes as the rain fell on her little beautiful face. I originally intended to walk fast to the car with my umbrella, but my first step quickly slowed down to a calm stroll to the car. I folded up my umbrella and kept it to the side.
I looked at her and she looked at me. Then we looked up to the sky together and she giggled with so much excitement to feel the raindrops on her face. It was as if she welcomed the rain as a guest in our home. A very profound and humbling moment for me. Though the distance to my car was short, it seemed to be the longest, most memorable and enjoyable walk I've had so far with my little baby girl. Among the chaos in everyone's mind over rain, it seemed as though my daughter was able to appreciate what G-d gave to us with full awareness. While people complained... she giggled. While people cussed... she laughed. While people looked frustrated... she simply smiled and, in her own way, said "thank you!" to G-d. I believe my little child knows who G-d really is, and once again showed me the way to a peaceful heart and mind.
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