When Your Parade Comes to a Screeching Halt

© 2014 by Karen Friday

Is there someone in your life constantly raining on your parade? 

“It’s raining, it’s pouring, the old man is snoring….” Who is this old man and why is he snoring? Does rain make him want to take naps? Oh, that’s right, he bumped his head and couldn’t get up in the morning. That’s a long nap!

In pouring rain, I would rather be inside a safe shelter. And snuggled up with a blanket taking a nap—even better! The snoring I can do without…and the bumps on the head.

“Rain, rain go away, come again another day.” To play outside, participate in outdoor activities…parades, and enjoy sunshiny weather, the rain must go away. Can a chant bring on this kind of power over the skies? I think not.

Caught in a downpour—without shelter—is drenching. During a recent storm, in the middle of pouring rain, I remembered…I had an umbrella…in the car.

We can’t always be prepared for torrential rains. Sometimes they come out of the blue. What had appeared as blue skies become dark skies warning of an impending storm.

When life’s blue skies turn pitch-black, we are caught by surprise without proper covering. Like the marching bands, beauty queens riding in open convertibles, and beautifully-decorated floats for the sideline crowds of a parade; we are at the mercy of unexpected rain.

There will always be people who rain on our parade. Had a good day? The parade-raining person did not, so neither can you. Received good news? The parade-raining person did not, so neither can you—let’s be clear, they can’t void good news. Happy? Joyful? Feeling well and refreshed? Sorry, the parade-raining person is none of these things.

Parade-raining people are often in the middle of rain storms themselves—sorrow, failures, insecurities, hope-deferred, and harsh life-issues. These are the people who will rain on your parade. Their parade is already drenched, so they are coming to cloud up the skies in your life. It’s just not fair if you have a parade and they can’t.

No sunshiny parade for you. No marching bands playing music for you. No sideline crowds cheering for you—as you come down the road of a goal reached or celebrate the smallest accomplishment.

A pocket-sized achievement for you becomes a threat to their pockets full of unmet goals and squelched dreams.

No matter how many times we chant, “Rain, rain please go away,” we do not have power over other people or their actions. Verbal taunts may drench our spirit with unwarranted harm. Rude demeanors and words may bring an emotional sting to our spirit—like the hard, heavy rain hitting against us—without the shelter of a safe haven.

When your parade comes to a screeching halt due to weather delays—you have a covering. A shelter not only from the storms, but in the middle of a downpour.

It’s raining, it’s pouring…and the Lord never slumbers.

He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he…will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:3-4

We have a special umbrella—a refuge—for parade storms. It’s not in the car. It’s my safe haven during torrential rains. Your safe haven during the storms of life. Our shelter from parade-raining people. Jesus.

The Lord covers us with the umbrella of blessings, truth, deep-rooted joy, healing words, love, comfort, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and celebration! It’s the largest umbrella known to spiritual man!

A hail storm or the “gates of hell” will not be able to stand against his covering.

So go ahead…have your parade. Strike up the band, then look up…to the skies. Not for rain clouds…for Jesus and his spiritual protection. You’re covered!