“Rain, Rain, go away, Little Johnny wants to play” – (Nursery Rhyme).

The children want to play outside even though it is raining and cool, and their pent-up energy might be driving their mothers nuts, but by the time you read this, the sun may be shining again. Sooner or later, “the sun will come out” (“Annie”)

It’s true. The rain falling on our dry earth is a blessing; and too much rain, well, “it never rains but it pours.” Life is that way. Get used to it.

Even Piper, our black lab, is tired of it, although, the cool weather may be the other reason she huddles in her warm bed in the garage and does not show up at our front window at breakfast. She doesn’t like to get wet.

Have you noticed how this wonderful moisture, full of minerals, brings forth lush grass, flowers, and vegetation? Even Fred doesn’t have to water his garden. Water from the hose doesn’t feed the beauty that a rich rain brings. Kansas turns into a garden of Eden when the rains come just in time. “May the flowers remind us why the rain was so necessary.”

And farmers? It’s going to be all right. Hang in there. It’s time to reflect (reflect means fix machinery, twiddle fingers, pace back and forth and grade the muddy areas). ”Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains” – James 5:7.

So, today, let’s do an attitude check, just in case we need one.

Remember the song by Ricky Nelson? “Listen to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain”? Let’s just relax.

“Rainy days, good books and a cup of hot coffee.” How many of us take time to curl up on the sofa, grab a cup of cocoa, tea, or coffee, and read a good book or magazine while listening to the rain? We are so busy running and meeting deadlines that we have forgotten how to take God’s break and just relax. 

“He who marries on a rainy day will be happy for the rest of his life”- French Proverb. No doubt, since it does rain in France a lot, the French needed a good phrase to justify the constant moisture. Right?

“Some people feel the rain; others just get wet,” says Bob Marley. The sounds of the rain on the roof, the washing of the air and atmosphere, the cleansing. Watch children in the rain. They want to splash in every puddle, ride bikes through the flowing street, and play in the pouring rain.  

“Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain.” Look up the “Singing in the Rain” with Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor and Gene Kelly, who dance and sing while getting drenched in the rain. “The person who dances with you in the rain will most likely walk with you in the storm.” 

And last, “When it rains on your parade, look up, rather than down. Without the rain there would be no rainbow.” Life can be often hard, rough, tough going, but we can always look up. There is a rainbow; a beautiful, reflection of the promise ahead for us all ... f sun and light and hope.

I feel good now. How about you?  

Judi Tabler lives in Pawnee County and is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at juditabler@gmail.com.