Rainy Day Blues

 by Kathy Avila

Psalm 138:8

The Lord will perfect that which concerns us. 

The little kindergartner was suffering from a type of “mommy diagnosed” anxiety disorder, which exacerbated itself on rainy days. 

On nights,  when the weatherman would predict cloudy skies with the possibility of rain showers for the next day.  I would kneel by Clarice’s bedside praying for courage and strength.  I wished that I could have enough time in the mornings to comfort my little lamb before she had to be dropped off in the ice-cold world of the public school arena, but there was always the constant rush to get to work on time. 

On one particular morning the clouds were so gray that rain was eminent; Clarice started crying in the back of the car as soon as she saw the dark clouds upon the sky.  “Mom the sky is not blue, ” she whispered in tears, the rising barometer of fear and anxiety in her voice was a foretaste of the gloomy day ahead. 

I said a prayer for my little one with a mixture of hope but at the same time disappointment.  Had I not cried out in prayer to the Lord about this just the night before?   Lord, answer the cries of my precious daughter I prayed as my own tears began to roll down my cheeks leaving streaks on my freshly applied makeup.  Suddenly I saw a small almost invisible patch of blue in the sky, right above the kindergarten playground.  “Oh, Clarice, just look at how much God loves you, there is some blue up there.”  At first she, looked behind tear filled eyes and quivering lips,  “He loves me?” she said with un-believe as she followed where my finger was pointing and then she said, “He really does, love me! I see the blue sky, mommy I see it!” hope was rising within her.

Suddenly the Lord whispered to my heart something that was for both of us.   “Clarice, the Lord says that sometimes we may have gray clouds all round us, but if we have faith and look beyond the gray clouds we will always be able to find a blue sky” 

As we pulled in front the school gate, Clarice’s tears were gone, she got out of the car all the while stealing a quick look upward and with great courage she waved and pointed up towards the blue patch of sky, as she went inside to face another cold and cloudy day, yet knowing that beyond the gray clouds there was the promise of a blue sky for both of us.

I went on to work.  Yes, things are difficult in our life we constantly deal with different kinds of challenges with so many uncertainties.  The Lord, however promises us that He will perfect those things that concern us and He does even in the midst of dark cloudy and rainy days if we can just trust and see beyond our circumstances, we will find the hand of the Master painting a blue sky among the gray clouds.