Rainy Days!

            H. Woody Bailey writes, "On a rainy day, five year old Sandi peered out the front window.  Although she had been bored for a time, suddenly her eyes lit up.  She had spotted something fascinating in the dreary scene as water ran along the gutter.  In a puddle, oily slicks coated the surface with patches of blues, reds, yellows, and greens.  'Look,' she squealed, 'A rainbow in the water all gone smash.'"  
            Life brims with rainbow scenes, but plans sometimes go to smash.  Each new dawn comes to us, awaiting our reaction, whether it arrives in golden brilliance or in subdued sullen streaks of rain clouds.  What comes our way may not be our choice, but our reaction is!  Not every day is flooded with sunshine, but that's all right.  Life offers a mix of sunshine and rain.  Like our own unpredictable moods, the mix should keep us alert and ready. 
            While rainy days get the poorest press, they could actually bring the greatest joy.  There are days that life seems to rage at us.  Nothing seems to go right.  Will we be destroyed or will we find ways to deal with the problems?  Everyone deals with the rainy day episode differently.  Some run away as fast as they can to hide while others splash in the rain, laughing, and dancing in it.  There will be days in all of our lives when gentle raindrops keep falling on our head.  But again, that's not necessarily bad.  Why do I say that?  Rain helps things to grow with refreshing abundance.  And life's little annoying raindrops can help you and me to grow--depending on our attitude.  I have found that our attitude can be more detrimental than the rain. 
            Growing up means being hit on the head by other people's criticism or truisms.  But taken in the right context, harsh words dropped on us could cause us to flourish, bear fruit, and even win against terrible odds.  So, whether the rain comes at us as drops, hail, or torrents, the best way to deal with it is always the way that Jesus taught in Matthew 5: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." 
            Life is full of smashed rainbows, but maybe some of those smashed rainbows are just what we need.  Possibly they will awaken us to the fact that we can do better or even start over.  It all depends on our demeanor.  A few days ago I was giving God thanks for all my past challenges, because they have actually made me stronger.  I retain the attitude that God will take the curse of the enemy and turn it into a blessing. Sure-enough He does!  Has your rainbow gone to smash?  Well, pick up the pieces, stay positive, trust God to come through for you, stay on track, move on with your purpose in life.  The future has gone nowhere, so don't miss it. Stay in control of yourself!   For more info you can visit us at www.JoyChristianMinistries.com

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