Happy Rain

A Story by GNBILU

Children's story to help cope with loss.

The leaves danced in the sparkling sunny sky as a little boy and his mother lay on a blanket beneath a tree in the park. There were fluffy white clouds dancing in the blue. They watched as the clouds floated by, as they disappeared they brought new ones in their place.

“Mommy,” Michael the little boy asked, “When will grandpa come back from heaven?”

Michael’s mother was surprised by his unexpected question. Her father had just recently passed away and Michael still did not understand that he was not coming home. She explained to her son that when people die and go to heaven they don’t come back.

Tears started rolling down Michael’s chunky cheeks. His light brown hair shined in the sunlight as he cried, “But I miss him.”

His mother gently wiped his tears, leaned in and told her little boy that his Grandpa was gone, but his spirit would come to visit him from time to time. She told him that he would not see his grandpa, but he would know when he was there.

“How?” Michael asked.

“Well,” explained his Mother, “whenever it rains outside and you can still feel and see the sun shining it is Happy Rain. Happy Rain is rain that comes from heaven to let us know that someone up there is looking down on us. They are letting you know that they love you and that everything will be okay.” Michael stopped crying and began to feel better.

A few years passed by and Michael had grown to be a tall slinky boy. He still missed his grandpa, but with time he began to heal. He was in school now and even played little league baseball. On one memorable sunny afternoon he stood in left field for the last game his team would play that season. He knew that it was the last inning and he began to feel sad, not because the season was over, but because he knew his grandpa would not be there to see him play ball. He would never see him hit a homerun. All of the sudden he heard a loud crackle. Thunder had boomed overhead and not too far away.

Then it happened, a drop of rain fell through the sunny sky and landed right on Michael’s cheek. A smile covered his face as happiness filled his heart and soul. He knew that his grandpa was watching over him. It was just like his mother had told him. It was Happy Rain!

Over the years as Michael grew older there were a few special days when Michael felt Happy Rain. Like the day Michael walked home from High School with his report card in his hands. He knew he would be in trouble for the D Mrs. Baker gave him in History class. His head hung low as he walked up the street to his house. Then out of know where he felt Happy Rain.

There was also the day he washed his new truck for the first time. Grandpa always liked old classic trucks. Just as Michael started to fill the soap bucket he felt Happy Rain. His grandfather always sent Happy Rain just when Michael needed it as a reminder that he was there.

Michael went through his life just as many of us do. He had some more losses, but with the losses he also had some gains. He married a beautiful young woman named Rebecca and they shared a daughter. Her name was Sophia and she was Michael’s pride and joy. She had Michael’s brown hair and her Mother’s curls. When she smiled Michael thought he could see a bit of heaven and it always made his heart overflow with pride.

Michael loved Sophia and he was a wonderful father to her. He taught her how to catch a baseball and in return she taught him how to play dolls.

Michael’s life was so full and happy. Then one summer morning he received a very sad phone call. Tears again ran down his cheeks as he learned that his Mother had died. He was very upset.

After the funeral he stood by his Mother’s grave in the quiet cemetery. As he stood there in the warm sun memories of his Mother danced through his head. Then he felt two little arms run up from behind him and hug his legs.

“Daddy why are you so sad?” asked Sophia with such innocence in her shiny brown eyes.

“I am sad because Grandma died.” Michael answered.

“I miss Grandma.” Sophia sadly said. “When will she visit us again?” Michael felt such sadness in his heart for the loss of his Mother, but Sophia’s innocent question reminded him that she wasn’t completely gone. He remembered the story his mother had told him about Happy Rain.

He looked at Sophia and began to tell her the story his Mother had once told him. “Whenever it rains outside and you can still feel and see the sun shining it is Happy Rain. Happy Rain is rain that comes from heaven to let us know that someone up there is looking down on us. They are letting you know that they love you and that everything will be okay.” Just telling Sophia the story helped Michael to feel a little bit better.

Michael and Sophia stood for a long time by the grave where his Mother rested. Finally, Michael turned to Sophia and said, “I guess we had better get you home.” Michael leaned over and picked up Sophia to carry her to the truck.

“Daddy!” Sophia said.

“Yes, honey.” He answered.

“Water just hit my arm.” And at that moment while they stood there in the sunshine, the rain began to pour down. Sophia giggled, “Its Happy Rain!” Michael knew that his mother was sending him her love from heaven and letting him know that everything would be all right. With that Sophia and Michael danced and laughed the whole way to the car.

This would not be the last time that Michael or Sophia ever felt Happy Rain. For just when they needed it most someone from heaven always sent it down. The next time you find yourself in Happy Rain just think of who you know up in heaven that is looking down and saying a friendly, “Hello.”

The End

© 2012 GNBILU

Author's Note

Any constructive feedback would be helpful.

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Reviews

JustJohn

Here are a few comments on the prose.

Grandpa should be capitalized throughout

know where -> nowhere

"Water just hit my arm" consider "A raindrop just hit my arm".

Consider ending "and saying a friendly hello" to "to let you know they are never far from you and still love and care for you as they always have."

Posted 12 Years Ago

JustJohn

Thanks for sharing this wonderful story and poignant idea in the form of a children's story. I can see this one illustrated into a little booklet and being a very helpful way for children to deal with this subject. Having recently lost both my parents, Happy Rain is a great metaphor for those moments when you just know they're with you. And that's the message that comes through for me as well -- just sending their love and that everything will be ok, no matter what I am facing. I think you captured the idea well in the context of this venue, and I really can't offer much in the way of criticism, except for a few word choices and small grammatical items. I liked the way you parsed the paragraphs, and I found myself wondering exactly what text would appear on each page, and then what the illustration might be on that page. I don't know if you've taken the idea that far yet, but I wouldn't mind hearing what you had in mind. Bottom line: great point encapsulated in a good story!