Expect Sunshine!

I woke up the other morning to a loud thundering rain on my roof. The sky was dark and the rain pelted down like ice chips on my windows. There wasn’t much in me that wanted to crawl out of my warm, cozy bed. But, I had to get up regardless of the rainy day that lay ahead. I went about my regular morning routine taking the occasional glance out the window to confirm my emotions. This was going to be a cold, dreary day. More than likely, I was going to feel unmotivated. As soon as I allowed the thoughts to enter my mind, the energy seemed to get sapped right out of me. Say it and you will be it.
When my 10 year old son came out of his room, he was dressed in his typical attire of camouflage pants and a green t-shirt. He went about his morning as usual until he came to the point where he was slipping his shoes on to run out for the bus. He got up and much to my surprise were his big black sunglasses. They weren’t in his pocket either. He was wearing them.
I did a bit of a double take out the window. YUP, it was still pouring rain. While I had been busy grabbing my umbrella, he had been looking for his sunglasses. “Josh, it’s raining out. Are you sure that you want to wear those sunglasses? I didn’t see any sunshine in the fore-cast for today.” To my surprise, he replied,” Mom, I know it’s raining. But the sun might come out, so I need my glasses.” It was interesting how strange it felt to have him standing there wearing those sunglasses. I paused for a while to think what my next words would be. I just couldn’t resist continuing the conversation. “Seriously though Josh - sunglasses?”
Now, I am a pretty flexible and laid back person. But, I had read the forecast just minutes before. There wasn’t a hint of sunshine in the day. Or at least that’s what I had heard and that’s precisely what I expected. My son Josh, on the other hand, expected sunshine in his day, regardless of the forecast or the obvious down pour outside. My 10 year old taught me a very valuable lesson that morning.
Why must we enter our days expecting rain, even if it’s all that we see with our eyes? Josh was believing for sunshine and his faith was clearly stronger than mine. Even though it didn’t really get sunny that day, the pouring rain lost a bit of its thunder in my mind. I saw it through Josh’s eyes - a rainy day full of possibilities. Or, should I say that I saw it through Josh’s sunglasses?
So, there’s a lesson for all of us. Come what may in your day, expect sunshine! Don’t let the rainy circumstances of your life keep you from seeing the possibilities. Live each moment with an expectation of goodness. Be grateful for all of your days - even the rainy ones.
And for the record, when Josh jumped off the bus that afternoon, he was still wearing his sunglasses. I love that boy! He brings sunshine to my day in more ways than one.