A Thunderous Love

Today at work, I was in the Cafetiria, playing Bingo with my board games class when the downpour hit. Granted, it didn't last long, but long enough to send all the kids from the playground rushing to the Cafeteria. I'm not sure why everything seemed so chaotic this afternoon--mom said it had been like that all day-- but in the middle of the chaos, my ears shifted toward the sound of frightened crying. One of my k-clubbers was whailing; I thrust the microphone I had been holding at Mr. Matt and ran to see what had set off Austin C. A usually tough kid. He said that the rain was scarry and he didn't like it and that he just wanted to go home. I sat next to him for a long while, while Mr. Matt and the other staff began to settle the other kids for a movie and computer lab. After about 10 min. Austin stopped crying long enough to look up at me and ask "Miss Lori, did God make it rain like this?" Austin was scared--in the rain, He saw the power of God, and it scared him. I told Austin that God did make it rain, but then we talked about why we need rain. We talked about how the grass and trees and plants need to drink the water and what would happen if it didn't rain--I reminded him of the pictures I had showed him from Guatemala and of the drought we had talked about after I got back. I told him that the rain is a good thing, and that we would be safe inside and that his mom would be here soon to pick him up. Austin seemed contented to hear that and went to join the other kids on the stage. About a half hour later, Austin came up behind me and grabbed my shirt, "Miss Lori," he said again, "next time it rains I'm gonna think that God loves me." Wow. Thank you, Austin C. for reminding me that my God is powerful enough to send rain and gentle enough to show Himself to a five year old. :o)