My daughter and I snuggled on the sofa watching a TV show she’d been waiting for. She cocked her head to the side, listening, and said, “What’s that?”
The pitter-patter on the roof was unmistakable and getting stronger. “Rain.”
She ran to the front door, twisted the knob, and used her body weight to pull it open. “Wow.”
A filmy white curtain hung across the yard, a swirl already forming near the storm drain at the end of the road. This summer boomer had hit hard and with a vengeance. I prayed the roof would hold, and no tell-tale water spots would form on the ceiling.
“Can we go outside?” Eagerness for adventure oozed from her innocent question.
“Not right this second.” This storm was a little too fierce to wade around in. “In a little while.”
Dutifully, she closed the door and came back to sit beside me. Then she noticed the sun peek out a few minutes later. Up she popped, her feet on double time to the window. “Mom, it isn’t raining!”
Sure enough the downpour had slowed. Sunlight glittered on the pools of water lining the road. She sat down in the foyer, tugging on her pink rain boots. In a flash she was out the door.
Chuckling, I followed close behind, reining her in on the front porch. “Hang on, it’s still sprinkling a bit.” We watched as a butterfly hopped from leaf to leaf, waiting out the tail end of the storm. She marveled at its wings, delicately painted black, brown, and orange as they fanned open and shut like the insect was drying off under the awning’s edge.
Minutes later, the rain faded and my little one took off. Giggling, she stopped to jump in a miniature puddle. She walked down the side of the road, gleefully kicking the water aside as she waded to the neighbors’ driveway.
She threw her arms up in the air. “Mom look. I’m walking on water!”
A big smile curved my lips as I came down to meet her as she made her way back. She’d learned the miraculous story of how Jesus had walked on water and asked Peter to join him on the sea. She could recount each detail, and most importantly she remembered the moral: we must believe.
Water squirted out, jolted as she jumped up and down, flushing the puddle outward to grow bigger and bigger. Much like we’re commissioned to do as Christians — to spread God’s Word to others. The only way to do so effectively is to believe with our whole self — heart, mind, body, and soul.
My daughter screeched with glee, pulling me from my thoughts. Her finger pointed toward the sky. At the end of our road hung a huge rainbow nestled amid the whitening clouds. The colors vibrant as a painter’s rendering. “God’s promise to us!”
Racing down the curb’s trough of water, she headed toward the colored arch, her arms outstretched.
Entranced by His gift, she simply accepted what he had given; she delighted in the puddles to the fullest. When He’d painted the rainbow across the sky, she didn’t question the how’s and why’s. She recognized the sign for what it was.
A beautiful masterpiece offered up for enjoyment and to be marveled at as proof He’s still with us.
Leave a Comment
Summer Rae says
Dear Miss Kristy,
I believe that your post will serve as a “rainbow” to the many women who will have the blessing of it entering their inboxes. Seeing that God’s love is always there; in the details. It is so often the case that when we see the storm we are scared to step out in it and face it… I think we can all learn something from your sweet daughter who, despite the fierce storm raging outside, wanted to go out and dance in the rain knowing that she would feel the warmth of the Son on her face again and see the beauty of God’s promise spread across the earth for her. Thank you again for sharing your story with us and I pray you and your family have a blessed day!
This side of heaven,
Summer Rar
Kristy Mabe says
Summer~
Thank you for your kind words! I hope my story touches many women’s hearts and shows them that we can see God in so many ways…especially through the eyes of a child. May you be blessed today too!
Michele Morin says
What a glorious memory-making day with your beautiful girl — and I love that she would leave media behind to experience real, God-created life outside in the rain!
Jas says
❤️❤️ What lovely memories you are creating, it made me think of the pure faith of kids that easily trust, the type of faith we should all have, your right fully mind, body and soul. Thank you for sharing your story d
Kristy Mabe says
Jas~
Thank you so much for stopping by to read “Walking on Water”! One of my favorite things is making memories with my family, especially my daughter. I do believe life is about collecting memories, not things…eventhough she does love Barbie dolls 🙂 Have a blessed day!
Kristy Mabe says
Michele~
Yes! She loves the outside and always has. It’s interesting that you mention her leaving media to go outside…we just has a waitress comment on that last night because she was playing with dolls instead of starting at an iPad 🙂 Have a blessed, joy filled day!
Kayla says
I want to say, I believe I remember the picture u took of her playing in the rain, but not 100% certain.
Kristy Mabe says
Kayla~
You may be thinking of her with her Minnie Mouse umbrella out in the puddles of Matthew…but I did snap a picture on the day that inspired this story. 🙂 I’ll be sharing it a little later today on my Facebook page. Have a joy filled day!
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Kristy,
Oh, that we would all lose ourselves in the childlike wonderment that your daughter reveled in. May puddles remind me, that I, too, can walk on water like Jesus if I believe with all my heart, strength, mind, and soul. May I be encouraged by the butterflies and other reminders of His wondrous creation, and may rainbows remind me that He is always faithful to His promises! Beautiful post and reminders!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Kristy Mabe says
Bev~
Thank you! Some of my best moments are found looking through her eyes. I’m so blessed by all God has given me, especially her 🙂 Today is proof anew that He is so very faithful! Have a blessed day!
Gail Noe says
Kristy – thank you so much for this lovely post. Yes, that we would all be able to be so childlike with our God and Father. It’s a challenge but one worth facing and walking into with great joy. God bless you and your family abundantly, Gail
Kristy Mabe says
Gail~
Thank you for your kind words and warm blessings! Some of my most joyful moments come from being a mom. And it’s true that walking with God can be a challenge, especially when the draw of the world is so loud. But in brief small moments He comes shining through with all His glory. May you be richly blessed!
Michelle says
I love this!! Many a rainbow in the sky from the Lord has pulled me through a rough day…. that reminder of His unmerited grace and unfailing promises. The children I regularly go outside when it is sunny and raining searching for a rainbow… it’s a sweet moment for us all as they lift their little hands to Heaven and thank Jesus for the beautiful rainbow. Best feeling in the world!!
Kristy Mabe says
Michelle~
Yes! Puddles and rainbows=my daughter’s favorite things when it rains. And I’m so blessed that she can see beyond the physical (most times) and knows the promises symbolized. I hope you and your children find many rainbows, and that joyful moments like those becoming a double blessing!
Stephanie says
What a heart warming story of experiencing God’s presence through the eyes of a child. Your beautiful descriptions filled me with His overwhelming peace and love. Thanks for sharing this, God is so good!
Kristy Mabe says
Stephanie~
You are so right! God is so good and I hope you’re having a joyfully blessed day! Thank you for the compliment. All I can say is only by God’s gifts. 🙂
Rebecca L Jones says
I think it’s great she understands the moral of the story. We all should be better at walking on the water and keeping our eyes on Jesus. Hebrews 12:2
Kristy Mabe says
Rebecca~
Thank you for the compliment! My husband are working hard on training her up in the way she should go 🙂 As for Hebrews 12:2…Amen! Have a joyfully blessed day!
Becky L says
Sweet story to start my day. Much better than sad news of daily online newspaper article I read before reading your story! I love how children enjoy the rain and snow. Beauty of God’s world draws me in as well. Nature is captured with my camera. It’s wonderful our children remember stories from the Bible and remembering the meanings even better. Our 2 children are all grown up but God’s word still in their lives and sharing. That is beautiful too! Continue to walk His path and share your words in whatever touches your heart.
Kristy Mabe says
Becky~
Thank you for your sweet compliments. I love being our among God’s natural world every day, and am lucky my daughter enjoys it too. We don’t get much snow, but if we do she’ll run out and plop down to make snow angels 🙂 Thank you for sharing your heart with me. Have a blessed and joyful afternoon!
Kristy Mabe says
If you interested on hearing how I felt getting the confirmation message from (in)courage to guest post, you can watch it here:
https://www.facebook.com/simplejoys.life/videos/1522656431090058/
If you’d like to here another vlog based on “Walking on Water” I invite you to watch here:
https://www.facebook.com/simplejoys.life/videos/1530080857014282/
Thank you to God and (in)courage for this amazing opportunity!
Kim says
Amen. Amen. Amen.
Kristy Mabe says
Kim~
The best closing ever. Thank you for stopping by to read “Walking on Water”. Have a blessed night!
Nkiru says
Thank you Kristy for this post. Again a reminder for me as Christian…”I Must Believe”. This has set me up for the day that started on an anxious note. God is indeed able. Thanks again.
Kristy Mabe says
Nkiru~
So blessed that my words were able to bless you! God is so good and with Him we can do anything as long as we believe. Have a joyfully blessed day!
Beth Williams says
Kristy,
God blessed you with a joyful, loving child. Wish we would all have the faith of children. They don’t fear storms. Their faith knows that God will be with them & see them through it. They delight in pure abandonment of worshipping Almighty God. May we all be like that. Run through puddles and saying “I’m walking on water”. Knowing a rainbow is God’s ultimate promise to us. Thanks for sharing!
Blessings 🙂
Kristy Mabe says
Beth~
Thank you so much for your sweet words. I am so blessed by God, and I thank Him for all his gifts, especially my daughter. Some of my favorite memories, and reflections, come when I see things through her eyes. Thank you for reading “Walking on Water”. Hope you have a blessed day!
Sherry says
Great story and such encouragement to the soul! We are blessed and more ways than one.
Love you!
Kristy Mabe says
Sherry~
So very blessed 🙂 Thank you for the compliment and for coming by to read “Walking on Water”! Love you too!