It was a dark and stormy night...

"It was a dark and stormy night..."  It paints a mental picture doesn't it.  It's easy to envision the setting, a thunderstorm with lightning and heavy rain with wind whipping all around.  This type of a beginning is foreboding to some unpleasant experience.  In my 40 years of life I've had many "dark and stormy nights."  However I've learned how to make it through, I rely on my relationship with Christ and the remembrance of making it through other tough times.

Sometimes kids go through difficult times, but don't have a mature relationship with God or life experiences to fall back on.  Sometimes they bottle it up inside, other times they lash out.  Being a children's pastor, I get the opportunity to pray with children on a regular basis.  I hear about the problems between mom's and dad's, health issues with grandparents, difficulties at school, etc...  Kids of today are going through some really challenging things!

However, we serve a God who loves them and cherishes their hearts.  Pray for your children and the children that are a part of your life, whether family, neighbors or children of your friends.  Speak encouragement to them and about them, remember that words create worlds.  Give them hope when they're going through their "dark and stormy night" and remind them that SONSHINE always follows the rain.  Be Blessed!