Porch memories . . .
My 89 year-old father-in-law called from Fort Worth on Sunday. It was raining and he had been sitting out on his porch watching the rain. He said, “I guess you think I’m a little crazy, but I love to sit on the porch and watch the rain.” He went on to say, “When the boys were young, I used to take a quilt on the porch, and we would all lie down and listen to the rain.” My reply was, “I know. Steve taught our kids to do the same thing when it rained.”
You see, my husband now has Glioblastoma brain cancer. So, life has slowed down a bit; but we have always taken time out for showers of rain. Our porch is very small and not covered, so when it rains now Steve pulls a chair up to the door and sits to hear the drops fall here in Houston, Texas. If you were here at about 3:00 am night before last, you would have found both of us sitting at the back door watching the rain fall, as we had done many times before.
Those moments are calm, quiet, talking moments. Moments that seem to wash all your troubles away. Moments that are uninterrupted by the busy disturbances of life. Moments when you can talk seriously about the days ahead. Moments that you can reflect on your life and question the future. Moments that the rain seems to wash all your fears away. Moments that assure you that indeed someone else is in control. Who else can make the rain? Who else can calm your fears of life? Who else can wash your sins away? Who else can change your life to be white as snow?
Whiter than snow, yes whiter than snow.
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Jesus knew that the Father had put Him in complete charge of everything, that He came from God and was on His way back to God. So, He got up from the supper table, set aside His robe, and put on an apron. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with His apron. When He got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.” Peter persisted, “You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!” Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.” “Master!” said Peter. “Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!” (John 13:3-9 MSG)
So, next time it’s raining hard, be assured, after 43 years of marriage, you can count on me and my man sitting as close as possible without getting wet, watching the rain while making future plans and resting in the showers of blessings we have experienced.
