Rain

Today will be a gray day. I used to have a disdain for these days. I would get into a funk watching the clouds and rain throughout the day. Thinking about all of the work I needed to do but couldn’t get done because of the rain. Now I look a bit differently at the situation, thanks to wise words from a kid.

When Daniel, my oldest son, was younger he was having a conversation with our pastor about the rain. Jeff was complaining about the rain and Daniel said “with the rain comes a new beginning for the plants.” Daniel was probably twelve or thirteen and didn’t realize the impact he made on lives with that statement.

As I sit here today I think about that new beginning. I think about the way I lived my life before, how far I was from God, even how far away from being a decent human I was. I also think about how true God’s love for us must be that he is willing to allow us to have a new beginning. How gracious he is to accept us after we have lived our own life with little regard for his commands and his purpose for our life. I think about having a new beginning for my life, and the forgiveness that I don’t deserve. I think about the unending grace that he lavishes upon us because we continue to fall short of his glory each and every day.

This new beginning is not because he needs us. It is not because we deserve it. It is because He loves us. He has promised to never forsake us and as long as we look for him he will be right by our side. So as we look at the rain today let’s focus on God, his sacrificial love for us, and the new beginning that we are afforded each and every day. Let’s strive to be better today than yesterday, forgive more, appreciate more, and love more.

I love you.