Rainy Day Prayer

By Anne C. Johnson –

Rain poured down like water gushing over Niagara Falls. A shiver ran down my spine as I glanced at the truck’s digital thermometer, 38 degrees. One last stop and we would be done with our chore list. Oh, why did I have to procrastinate and leave the dreaded weekly grocery shopping ‘till last? If only I had done the shopping first, then I wouldn’t have to get out of the car at all, just drive through at the bank, pharmacy and library. Now I had to hustle two small children and myself into the store in a freezing deluge. Great.

I glanced in the back seat, the kids were quietly examining their new library books. The umbrellas that often clutter up the floor of the car were AWOL. Figures, why do I have to be so neat and tidy and put things away in their proper place?

Frustration mounted in my heart. As I drove up and down the parking lot aisles I allowed a loud sigh to escape.

“Well, I guess we could shop later,” I grumbled.

“Why, Mommy?” my daughter asked. “All you have to do is pray for a spot.”

I snickered, “Yeah, for a spot close to the front door, right?”

“Amen,” my two children said in unison.

As I came to the head of the aisle, a car backed out of the first stall right in front of me. I pulled in, dumfounded. From the back seat my children said, “Thank-you, Jesus.”

“See, Mommy, God does listen to and answer our prayers,” my son offered.

“I guess Jesus doesn’t want us to get soaked,” said my daughter.

“Neither do I,” I laughed. “And children, thanks for reminding me to pray, even for the silly things.”

When I became a mom I knew I would do a lot of teaching, but today was my turn to be taught. God showed me through my children, how much He cares about even the little things in life. That night as we snuggled on my son’s bed to say our prayers, we thanked God again for the great parking space.

Funny when a parking space can bring to life that verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 “Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (NLT).