Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Whatever the Weather

by Anna Jones Buttimore

We had our Fast and Testimony meeting last Sunday, since Stake Conference was the first Sunday of the month. A sister who is very dear to me - she has been through some of the worst possible trials, but is still the most loving and faithful woman I know - bore a very brief testimony saying that it was easy to be happy and believe in a loving Father in Heaven when the sun was shining, and when it was raining we should look for a rainbow and remember that He keeps his promises.

I could pretty much end there, I think. So much wisdom in one sentence. But we Brits love to talk about the weather, so I feel the need to continue the metaphor a little longer. On the Sunday when Sister Hornsey bore her testimony, the weather was wonderful. The sun was shining, and it was 23 degrees C (78 degrees F) which is about as hot as it ever gets here. Last night, as I was driving to Subway to collect the fast food we always have on Family Home Evening, the weather broke. Thunder clapped, lightening flashed continuously, and I got soaked through just running from my car to the restaurant. Now, British weather isn't as dramatic as American weather - we don't have tornadoes or hurricanes - but this was a pretty amazing storm all the same. I arrived home to find the children and Hubby Dearest watching it through the window, awe-struck, but just a little scared.

It reminded me of the truth of what Sister Hornsey had said. Good weather can't last long (at least not here). After a few warm days, there is always a storm - and that's when we need to look for rainbows.

2 comments:

Cheri J. Crane said...

Wonderful analogy and post, Anna, and so very, very true.

Gale Sears said...

Dear Anna,
We've had so much rain in dry desert Utah that it seems like the inside of a greenhouse! I do like the rainbows, and the blueness of the sky after the dark clouds depart. You've given us a great analogy.