The Red Umbrella

As the drought continued for what seemed an eternity, a small community of mid-west farmers were in a quandary as to what to do next. The rain was important not only to keep their crops healthy, but to sustain the townspeople's very way of living. As the problem became more urgent, the local church felt it was time to get involved and called a prayer meeting to ask for rain.

In what seemed a vague remembrance of a Native American ritual, the people began to arrive. The pastor on his arrival watched as the congregation continued to file in. He slowly made his way to the front to officially begin the meeting.

Everyone was taking the opportunity to visit across the aisles to socialize with close friends. The pastor's thoughts when he reached the front were on quieting those present and starting the meeting.

As he began to ask for quiet, his eyes scanned the crowd and he took note of an eleven year-old girl sitting in the front row.

Her face was beaming with excitement and she quietly sat in her place. Next to her, poised and ready for use, was a red umbrella. The beauty and innocence of the girl made the pastor smile as he realized the faith she possessed. No one else in the congregation had brought an umbrella.

They had all come to pray for rain, but she had come expecting God to answer with the needed rain.