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  15 Minutes to Play in the Sun “Mommy, I’m going to go outside and play!” 4 year old Taryn exclaimed as she started to pull on her boots and rain coat. “Oh, honey, you can’t do that. It’s pouring outside! It’s been raining for 3 days and the wind is terrible. And there are huge puddles all over the yard!” I replied. “Oh, it’s okay, mommy!” Taryn replied cheerfully. I’ve got my raincoat and boots. Anyway, I just prayed and asked Jesus to stop the rain for 15 minutes, so I can play.” “But… but… Taryn, this is a south-easter, and you know these storms take days to blow out. The weather man says it will be at least another 2 or 3 days….,” I argued. “But mommy, I really need to play outside. And I already asked Jesus for 15 minutes of sunshine. And you always tell me that Jesus answers our prayers,” Taryn responded firmly. “Well… But Taryn, there might be really important reasons for the rain, you know. We live on this beautiful island with all the green, mossy forests. If we didn’t get the rain, it wouldn’t be beautiful like this. And there are farmers here, too. They’ve probably been praying for rain for their crops…,” I replied. “Maybe God is answering their prayers.” “Oh, don’t worry, Mommy,” Taryn said cheerfully. “I just need 15 minutes of sunshine to play outside! It will be fine!” With that, she opened the door. The rain was still pouring and the wind whistling around the corners of the house. My heart sunk. “Oh, Lord, she has so much faith. And now it’s going to be sunk,” I was thinking. Taryn confidently stepped out onto the porch, and pulled the door closed behind her. And as the door shut, I glanced out the window – just in time to see sunshine come streaming down through the clouds, parting them, and revealing a huge patch of clear blue sky overhead. The wind dropped off, too. The rain stopped, instantly. I went over to the window and looked down into the yard. There was Taryn, splashing around in the puddles, laughing and jumping with joy. I, meanwhile, was stunned. Of course, being only 4 years old, Taryn didn’t have a watch, and couldn’t tell time anyway. But as she had stepped outside, I had glanced at the clock. Now a few minutes had passed, and I heard her little footsteps coming up the outside stairs. I glanced at the clock again. Exactly 15 minutes had gone by! The door opened, and Taryn stepped inside, a big smile on her face, pulling the door shut behind her. “Well, mommy, I just had my 15 minutes of sunshine! Now it can rain again!” And sure enough, even as the words were coming out of her mouth, and the door wasn’t quite closed, I saw through the gap that the rain was once again pouring down. The sunshine was gone, the storm had returned. And God had worked a miracle for a little child who believed that God really does answer prayer! Norma Hill Date May 12, 2007 |
 My name is Norma. I'm married to Lionel. We have 5 kids - Taryn, Sarah, Robyn, Wendy and Peter, and one grandchild, Tony. At the moment, I am teaching French and Home Economics at a Christian School. I also enjoy writing, reading, facilitating Christian study groups, exercise, gardening, playing guitar, and a multitude of other interests.
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