This area of our beautiful country is desperate for rain.  The farmers need it, the homeowners need it.  The Governor of Alabama has ordered a ‘NO BURN’ ban throughout the whole state.  In my town, there is a watering schedule and certain days no one can water.  My plants that get a good drink late, late at night, are drooping miserably by noon.  We really need rain.  And, I am thinking of other places in our country that are in the same boat.  The areas where the wild fires are need the rain to help stem the fires…and they need it NOW!

What can we do about this? Nothing.  We can do nothing.  This is something that is out of our hands.  I have never liked the feeling of being ‘out of control’…but here we all are…needing rain and we are not in control of causing it to happen.   So, what will happen?  Will it rain or will it not?  Will all the crops die, or will some be salvaged?  Will the fires continue to burn out of control, or will the raindrops come in time to prevent more damage?  We can try to hold on to the water we have and ration it .  But, we cannot make the rain.

What will this cause you to do?  What will this do to you attitude and to your outlook?  Will it make you BITTER…or BETTER?  Will it cause you to curse the Maker of the rain or will you look for lessons in these hard times?

When I began thinking about this post, this song came to mind.  I have always thought it beautiful…but the words have taken on new meaning.  And, the meaning I have found in these words…are words that need to be stamped on my heart.

GRATITUDE

Send some rain, would You send some rain?

‘Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again

And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade

Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?

Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down

Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid………….

But maybe not, not today

Maybe You’ll provide in other ways

And if that’s the case . . .

We’ll give thanks to You    With gratitude

For lessons learned in how to thirst for You

How to bless the very sun that warms our face…….If You never send us rain

Daily bread,  give us daily bread

Bless our bodies, keep our children fed

Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight

Wrap us up and warm us through

Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs

Let us slumber safe from danger’s view this time

Or maybe not, not today

Maybe You’ll provide in other ways

And if that’s the case . . .

We’ll give thanks to You    With gratitude

A lesson learned to hunger after You

That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead

And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between

What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace

Move our hearts to hear a single beat

Between alibis and enemies tonight

Or maybe not, not today

Peace might be another world away

And if that’s the case . . .

We’ll give thanks to You     With gratitude

For lessons learned in how to trust in You

That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream

In abundance or in need

And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus,  would You please . . .

Song by Nichole Nordeman…Album…Woven and Spun, 2002

It is available to be listened to online. It is very easy to find by just typing in the name of the song and artist.   If I were more proficient in computer-ese, I would provide a link.  But, unfortunately, I’m not able to do that at this point.  But soon…hopefully…..