As a drought continued for what seemed an eternity, a small community of farmers was in a quandary as to what to do. Rain was important to keep their crops healthy and sustain the way of life of the townspeople.
As the problem became more acute, a local Priest called a prayer meeting to ask for rain. Many people arrived. The Priest greeted most of them as they filed in. As he walked to the front of the church to officially begin the meeting he noticed most people were chatting across the aisles and socializing with friends. When he reached the front, his thoughts were on quieting the attendees and starting the meeting.
His eyes scanned the crowd as he asked for quiet. He noticed an eleven-year-old girl sitting quietly in the front row. Her face was beaming with excitement. Next to her, poised and ready for use, was a bright red umbrella. The little girl’s beauty and innocence made the Priest smile as he realized how much faith she possessed.
No one else in the congregation had brought an umbrella. All came to pray for rain, but the little girl had come expecting God to answer …
Reflection
Jesus said, “Ask and you shall receive…” but maybe our requests are sometimes only half-measures!
The older we get, the less likely we are to remember our innocence. The faith of the little girl is inspirational to the young, old and hard-of-heart. Perhaps, we should search our attic for that long-lost umbrella!
