Buttermilk Clouds

After every storm the sun will smile;

for every problem there is a solution,

and the soul's indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer. ~William R. Alger

I am the girl in this picture. Ok, not literally, but figuratively. When I saw this photograph for the first time I felt as if I knew what she must be thinking. I've been walking with this umbrella in the pouring rain, and I'm finally able to put it down and look up to the sky and marvel at the splendid glory of a sunset through buttermilk clouds. I'm so glad now that it rained or I wouldn't have been able to enjoy this moment. It's not easy to be thankful for the rain sometimes, for the absolute downpour of a storm when it hits you out of the blue, catching you off guard, or even when you see the drizzle and the clouds approaching and you know it's coming but you're helpless to stop it so you hold on to your umbrella or take shelter where you can find it, and you wait it out.

It's not raining on me so much these days, and when it does instead of hiding under my umbrella, I keep walking because I know it can't rain forever and we all have to get wet sometimes.

Thank you, Father, for the rain and especially for the moments that come after we've weathered the storm, for it is only then that we can truly appreciate what we had to endure to see the sun again.