Rain Brings Beauty

Tonight I arrived home a little late from work, but I am thankful for that today. You see at 5pm when I am scheduled to get off of work, it seemed that the floodgates had opened up. I had kept my eye out on the skies during the late afternoon as it seemed to get a little bit darker every time I took a glance. I was hoping it would hold off until I reached the safety of my home, but today that wasn't the case. The storm was right over my workplace, the rain so hard, it began to flood the lawn outside our building. I decided that I would stay put until the storm subisded so I would actually be able to see as I drove home. I kept up with radar and when it seemed like there was a break in the action, I left for home. Of course, as soon as I stepped outside, the skies opened up again. I sat in my car for a few minutes contemplating if I should leave or just wait, and I decided to get on the road. "I can make it down to the Harris Teeter" is what I thought. I did and I pulled in to sit and wait out the rest of the storm that was passing through. However, soon after I parked the sun came out and filled half of the sky. The other half was very dark with angry black thunder clouds. The rain was still coming down steadily but off in the direction I had to go, it was clearing. I sat for a few minutes mustering up the courage to get on my way again, as I knew that it would be clear once I headed toward home. Glancing around me, the sun was strong and a beautiful contrast to the dark sky off to the south. This could only mean one thing. Somewhere there would be a rainbow. I wonder if I would see it?

Next to me, a mama and her little boy were standing in the rain, and as I looked harder, I noticed the mama was pointing out a rainbow in the sky! What a sweet moment. At about that time, the rain started to let up and I made my way back on the road, headed for home sweet home. I didn't think any more of the rainbow until I approached a clearing, and there it was: straight in front of me, seeming to stretch far beyond the trees from one side of the ground to the other. It was amazing. Thank you Lord Jesus, for giving me this rainbow today. Thank you for allowing me to stay late at work, so I would see this gift on my Friday afternoon.

Of course I wouldn't have my good camera with me, so I had to snap a couple of quick shots with my cell phone, although no picture could do this scene justice. And just has I thought I had seen the most breathtaking sight, the Lord gave me another rainbow! A Double Rainbow? Thank you Jesus. Thank you for showing me your beauty and majesty. Thank you for allowing my human eyes to catch a glimpse of creation that reminds me of how big and great You are.

Deep down inside I was hoping that I would make it home in time to snap a photo of the rainbow with our G10, but rainbows come and go quickly so I'll keep that memory inside my heart and mind forever. By the time I got ten minutes down the road, the rainbow(s) were but a memory of the past, hidden in the gray clouds. I'm still thankful for that rainbow.

What a gift to receive on a Friday afternoon.