And God said “Let there be puddles!”
Rain, lightening, thunder… The progression of a quality storm. My favorite weather. Especially when spent with one of my absolute favorite people: my boyfriend. Though we are very similar, a major difference between us is the way we prefer to spend our time during a classic rainy day. He would prefer to stay in cuddled up under blankets watching Grey’s Anatomy. Whereas I, desire to jump in the puddles collecting outside. Hey, I embrace my inner four-year-old!
I knew my (equally) fun roommate would be up for some puddle jumping so I was eager and excited to get home from my day of Grey’s. I turned into my street to feel all my anticipation fade to disappointment as I noticed my empty driveway, therefore empty house. So I parked my car, reached across the seat to bring in some garbage I should have taken out days ago, closed the door and turned around to a girl standing next to me. More specifically a 12 year old girl. Standing barefoot. In a puddle.
A PUDDLE.
Me: “Are you jumping in puddles?”
Girl: “No, just walking in them.”
Me: “Oh. Cause I was super excited to come home and jump in the puddles with my roommate, but it turns out she’s not home.”
Without hesitation her face lit up, “Well I’ll jump in puddles with you!!”
So the puddle jumping began and with each new puddle I had the privilege of learning a little more about her. Including her family, her dog, her dreams. About an hour later we both turned in for the night sopping wet and smiling. Her smile was probably just a result from the good time we shared together. Mine was because I was reminded just how personal and intimate God is. He knew I had a desire to jump in puddles, in fact He is probably the one who gives me that desire and my child-like joy that comes with it. The point is He combined my silly puddle jumping desire with my desire to share His love with this community so He strategically placed a 12 year old girl in a puddle next to my car on a normal rainy day. Not a dog, not an 8 year old boy, but a 12 year old girl who I could talk and relate with and hopefully pour into in the near future. And He did it when I was least expecting it, when I wasn’t trying and over thinking, He used just a few simple puddles.
-Brooke