Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Making Memories ...

My Gmail status for a couple of days - now - says that, "Taking time and opportunities to make cherishable memories.", and all I could relate it to this very story, described by someone unknown to me, which is about a girl and her experience while shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart.

She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories were a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in,

"Mom, let's run through the rain," she said.
"What?" Mom asked.

"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated.
"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated, "Mom, let's run through the rain."
"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.

"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?" "Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.

Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If God let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

Circumstances or people can take away my material possessions, they can take away my money, and they can take away my health. But no one can ever take away my precious memories.

So Ankit, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is a fantastic story. Very touching. Thanks so much for sharing.

-Avinash.

dangiankit said...

Yes Avinash, it indeed is very touching. You're welcome.

Anonymous said...

oHHH.. Thats a real touching story and the best one I have read in a long time...

Actually I feel soo calm and lucky to have a life with soo less problems as of now;

And thank you..I hope you don't have problems IF I share that with my friends :)

dangiankit said...

Thank You Veena.

Touch wood! Hope you don't face 'much' problems in near or distant future, as well. And yeah, you can go ahead, and share the same with your friends. No issues at all. :)