A Big Prayer for A Little Rain

This is a true story about my oldest daughter, Charisma Suzanne (Shanaberg) Sullivan!

A BIG PRAYER FOR A LITTLE RAIN

 

When my children were young, we were camping, whenever we could.  Sticks and rocks became something different, in this outdoorsy world.  The sticks became swords and all sorts of toys.  There was, even, fighting over the sticks; like the woods were not full of them.  There is no corner in the woods, so "time out" was taken standing on a flat rock with the nose facing the tree.

 

One summer, there was a terrible drought.  The bees were going crazy.  It was miserable to be outside.  The kids would dry off from swimming and be suffering from the heat, again, within the short distance between the lake and our tents.

 

My oldest daughter, Chari, said, "I wish it would rain."

 

We had a screen-tent, where we would sit, out of the sun, and eat.  Just outside of the front door of the screen-tent was a flat rock, about the size of a floor tile and an inch thick, that had a zip-lock bag under it for messages, when we were out.

 

I told Chari that that rock was a "prayer rock" and, if she really believed, she could stand on it and pray for rain.

 

She stood on the rock, with her hands clasped together, in prayer, and her eyes closed, chanting a repetitive prayer for rain.  I was praying, in my heart, that by some miracle, something would happen.  But, I knew that we were having a drought.

 

Nothing appeared to have happened, but suddenly, Chari began jumping around, shouting, and pointing at the "prayer rock."

 

When I went to look, there were no less than a dozen small drops of moisture on that rock.  I don't know whether it was "bird pee" or some tiny sputter of rain, but there it was; a miracle!

Author's Note

She has never forgotten that day and that her prayer "was" answered.

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Since birds do not pee (all thier body fluid comes out when they defecate) it could not have been that. But it may have been water from a swim or perspiration from your daughter; at any rate, it is nice to believe our prayers are heard and answered. This made me smile. It's a quaint and charming story.

[An owl on the moon]

What a wonderful account of answered prayer! Through the eyes of a child such wonders can be seen... This was a joyful message for us all to share!

[Dom Macchiaroli]

What a nice piece. And the description of a nice time with your kids. Some maybe techs: (forgive me if others have already pointed these out)

like the woods was (were) not full of them.

distant (distance)

draught. (drought)


Loved the piece Christina.

[Ruth]

I needed this! :) So bless:) Told really nicely and I love it! xx

[Jessica Mai]

I'm glad you got that small miracle. This is a really sweet story. Your story telling skills kept me captivated throughout.

[Revolutionary]

We tell our children things that keep our imagination alive.It does not matter if it was bird pee.Those little drops were worthy of this story and the reason your little girl will tell her kids about dream rocks.Keep praying and using that imagination

[Mike Espinosa]

Adorable. Your storytelling is amazing. Great imagery and descriptions. Nicely done.

[Samuel Dickens]

It wasn't quite a rain shower, but it was enough to excite your young daughter and make her believe her efforts had worked. Putting myself in her shoes, I probably would have thought that I'd gotten my rain chant only partially correct and that some minor changes would surely produce the desired deluge. I remember staring out the window and praying for snow when I was about five, but stingy mother nature sent me nary a flake--at least not that day.