Learning to dance in the rain

A few years ago, one of my friends posted a quote by Vivian Greene on Facebook. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass but it's about learning to dance in the rain." I loved it and almost instantly I knew that was a lesson I wanted to teach my children. I knew that applying the quote to life's circumstances would be beneficial for them but how much more impacting (and fun) would it be to apply it literally? (Kids remember illustration much more than lectures, right?;)


Since then I've pictured myself getting them matching raincoats and rainboots and having them go at it in the rain. Um yeah I never really got around to that.:) It had been raining almost everyday here and I really didn't think about it when we planned almost a last minute playdate with Skye and her awesome mom  and good friend of mine, Donna. The kids were playing for about an hour or so when the downpour started. Donna and I with our babies, Autumn and Sienna were sitting under the gazebo while we witnessed the kids run away from the rain. Practically tiptoed back into it and then finally racing into it.

With it in mind that one day my children will grow up and read this. Moriah, David, Autumn (Skye and Sienna too:) This is for you!

As you grow up you will find that people will let you down. Some of them will be mean, inconsiderate and judge you wrongly. Your dreams will sometimes take a detour and not come out exactly how you have planned. Some things will happen that will make absolutely no sense and you will probably not be able to figure out why it had turn out that way. The enemy will show up with many different faces. He will show up through fear, doubt, addiction, insecurities, peer pressure and other masks. You will make mistakes. It's normal . God knows that you are not perfect and you were created from dust. (Gen 3:19) There will be tough seasons in your life with many storms.

With all these things, God has already equipped you with great tools to whether the storms. His word has encouragement applicable to every situation and His promises has power. His word are just not "words on a page that were written by mere men" as some will try to convince you. These words were inspired by God himself to speak to you specifically. He desires for you to grow to know Him and He allows these storms to happen so that your faith will built. He has designed you with special gifts, talents, skills and passions that will be your "brighter side."

With Him there is always hope. And where there is hope, there is certainty that the storm won't last. With that being said, you don't have to wait until the storm is over to have joy. Though the enemy's goal is for you to be afraid of the storm, you don't have to be. I've heard a pastor once say that we can be storm chasers! Why not have that much confidence when these storms are going to make us better? We will grow to be more patient, considerate, humble and able to comfort those who are going through what we have gone through. All traits possessed by our Christ! Have confidence because God doesn't waste any experience in your life. He can and will use your failures, shortcomings, mistakes, insecurities and all the things that you would label as "unattractive"  into something beautiful and purposeful.

So don't be afraid of the rain! Celebrate it! Dance in it!


More than that we can rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the holy spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when ever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything. ~James 1:2-4