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Topic: Rain (09/07/04)
TITLE: RAIN RAIN GO AWAY By Marie B. Corso 09/11/04 |
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“Mom, will the lake fill up and flood the house?” I finally got the nerve to ask my mother the question gnawing at me.
“No, dear,” my mother simply answered. My wonderful mother, the classic 40’s homemaker, was raised with late Victorian mores. Though a dedicated mother in every practical way, I doubt she ever thought of her children’s emotional needs.
Some weeks before, during a prolonged rain storm, Molly Ann’s Brook at the end of our street overflowed its banks. In the middle of the night, firemen evacuated our neighbors who gathered at our house -- the highest evaluation on the street. People paddled around in soft slippers, with gowns over their night clothes. They ate cookies and sandwiches my mother served in the candlelit living room.
A knock sounded and I heard a fireman tell my father, “If the water continues to rise, you will be evacuated. We’ll bring a boat.” I remember thinking we would probably go to the next town to my grandmother’s house. But I was tired, and wanted to go to bed.
Soon, however, the rain stopped and the water began to recede. The neighbors left and we went back to bed.
Now, at the cottage, the thought of too much water where it wasn’t supposed to be generated fear in me as it often would through my life. Molly Ann’s Brook, my beloved place to wade in summer and ice skate in winter, left its mark deep inside me when it flooded our street. Most of my life, plumbing problems, a leaky roof, a serious storm, or any incident involving water unnerved me. Strangely, I never connected the flood to my fears until I was well past middle-age. When I finally realized the root of my fears, I took them to the Lord, and, now, incidents involving water do not disturb me. The Lord helped me understand that most things pass or are fixable.
I wonder about children living through the recent hurricanes. In their futures, will they stand and stare out of the window in fear the next time it rains, wondering if that storm will result in a damaged house, or no house, or water soaking and spoiling everything important to them? I think so. Who will calm their fears? Who will help them understand?
One night one of my grandchildren and I encountered a fierce sudden storm as we left the grocery store. We sat on a sheltered bench and watched the lightning dance across the sky and heard the thunder roll in cascading booming blasts. Rain collected on the parking lot. My granddaughter’s fear was evident as she snuggled up close to me.
As I held her, we talked about the thunder being just noise caused by cold and hot air colliding and the danger of lightning. Finally, the storm passed though it was still raining. When I felt it was safe to drive, I jumped up and said, “Come on, honey, let’s run to the car.” I took her hand and we laughed and giggled as we raced through the rain, getting soaked to the skin. We splashed in puddles up to our ankles. The minute it took to open the car door and get inside drenched us even more, but the car heater dried us as we rode home to share our adventure with the family.
Sometimes, we talk about that stormy night at the grocery store. I am glad to hear my granddaughter remember the fun of our dash through the rain to the car more than the fierceness of the storm. I consider it part of my role as a grandparent to help my grandchildren understand God’s creation in a way that doesn’t generate fear, but rather acceptance. I don’t want them to grow up with the anxiety I suffered. Though we may not understand what God allows, we accept it as His divine will. I am glad that I can help assuage those fears in my little ones’ hearts and not let them smolder deep inside as mine did. But my Heavenly Father has healed that part of me and I am grateful.