I’m hurrying to finish my errands on a gray and rainy day, wishing I had brought an umbrella. I’m focusing on the heavy clouds and the moisture seeping uncomfortably into my shoes. I almost missed it. But the tiny flash of color caught my eye as I passed and I turned back to look. And there, out of the blue, in the last place a country girl expects to capture the essence of autumn, there’s this single leaf, liquid golden-yellow against a city sidewalk wet with September rain.
Before you know it, I’m running back to my car for my camera, ignoring the great drops splashing on my head as I lean in to capture this one small, brilliant taste of fall—and suddenly grateful for the rain that saturates the colors and makes it shine. Even in the rain, He gives good gifts, if only we have our eyes open to see—and sometimes they’re all that much better because of it.
“…Rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful…” (Joel 2:23)
Rejoicing Hills 