Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Under His Umbrella



When I was an adolescent I walked to the end of the street to catch the bus every day.  When it was raining, my Dad would urge me to take an umbrella.   Sometimes he would just hand me one and send me on my way.  Well, he might has well have given me rain boots and a yellow rain coat as far as I was concerned.  There was no way I was going to really use it.  So when I would get to the corner I would run up to the last house and place it on the front porch to leave while I went to school.   Then I would pick it up on my way home in the afternoon.  He never realized I did not follow his advice, and I never told him. 

Many years have gone by since I walked to catch the bus at the corner of our street, but I still find myself doing the same thing in a different kind of way.  God provides everything I need in life to prosper, and grow in Him, like an umbrella of hope and protection, and yet I find myself at times still disregarding His direction. I am still leaving the umbrella at the corner house.  I choose to weather the rain on my own, holding my foolish pride in hand.

Now that I am getting older, and have weathered  many a storm in life, I have learned the hard way enough times with scars to prove the lesson, that life's journey to the corner is much more pleasant and rewarding when taken under His umbrella of protection and guidance.  I may stray from time to time, but I never lay His umbrella down for long when I know the rain is heading in.



Also sharing with lovely Emily at Imperfect Prose



36 comments:

  1. First of all... I am IN LOVE with your banner!! This post is encouraging that you can look through the trials and hide in his arms during the storms!

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  2. I really liked this analogy. I used to refuse to use an umbrella, too. I wonder why? Thanks for sharing this. : )

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  3. nice metaphor, this post. and i love the Smedes quote.

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  4. Lovely metaphorical use here. Powerful message and reminder.'

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  5. I liked this comparison as well, a good reminder to trust God and follow Him.

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  6. I haven't even read your post yet. I had to run down here while I was still gobbsmacked with your header. Phenomenal. And I love that Dickinson quote. Ok, now I shall read.

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  7. This reminds me of a conversation my parents had with my brother and I as teens, about the blessed protection of obedience now that we were too old for it to be easily enforced. They compared it to being under the umbrella of their authority. Thanks for the reminder that my Heavenly Papa makes that same offer, and I will never outgrow my need to say yes.

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  8. Lovely post! (Also love the quotes on your blog on the sidebar).

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  9. I choose to weather the rain on my own, holding my foolish pride in hand.

    wow.
    oh how many times i've done that!

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  10. Loving father...a good lesson...and reminder.

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  11. Lovely! I took a run in the rain this morning. Thanks for the follow. ;)

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  12. That's a great story! I used to hate umbrellas, too, and resent any suggestion that I use one because I thought they were pointless - until I moved to England. Because, you see, umbrellas were designed for the slow wet rain of England and places like that, not for the torrential tropical rainstorms that flood and pour, which are what I grew up with. I don't know if this adds any new dimension to your thoughts, but for me it's interesting that something we're provided with is a provision for a specific time and occasion, or something like that!

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  13. wow. carrie, i love this so much. i love how candid it is. this peek into your life, your beautiful soul... thank you friend. (and i resonate so much, it hurts)

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  14. I wonder what the people of the corner house thought about the mysteriously appearing and disappearing umbrella? :)

    Beautiful thoughts.

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  15. First – it’s good to know I’m not the only one in love with your banner – it’s brilliant – I covet your banner :) And this today – is such a great story – with an amen attached to the end. Everything is better, “more pleasant and rewarding when taken under His umbrella of protection and guidance.” Even the rain. Even the storms. Thank you for this and God bless and keep you and all of yours.

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  16. We all have our own touching anecdotes for our fathers. I love this.

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  17. Powerful, incredible header....I can tell immediately I want to follow your blog. Your prose was so eloquent and moving. Wise advise. Looking forward to more visits. Aren't you enjoying all the talent displayed for these Magpie challenges?

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  18. Strong narrative work, good stuff. Made me smile: relatable.

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  19. Hi Carrie,

    I think you brought the perfect message and reflections of the day... now after reading this, every time it rains feel a need of an umbrella i know i will remember you... and i thank God for giving me another chance to read be inspired from a wonderful person like you my friend...(:

    Brightest of blessings to you and your family.

    ~Kelvin

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  20. Thank you all so much for your wonderful words of encouragment....i have enjoyed reading everyone's writing as well! :-)

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  21. Great blog. You are truly an inspiration for me. Please do visit my blog and leave your footprints behind by posting comments:-

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  22. I love this. Independence can totally kick our hiney-butts, huh? I think of my two-year-old Wild Orange insisting: "I DO IT, MOMMY!" And I just back off, say, quietly, "Ok," and wait 'til she asks for help. God must be just like that. Only better. Blessings to you.

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  23. What a lovely blog, and such lovely thoughts! I am a musician who blogs about creativity. Please visit me at freetospeakblog.blogspot.com I would love to hear from you.

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  24. carrie...your sharing made me laugh, made me cry :) after reading this i wonder to myself why it is that all of us are so bent on going our own ways in spite of Love's admonition??
    this was so beautiful...thanks for giving me such a powerful visual :) love you!

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  25. This is a great reminiscence and warning. (I almost used that big old word "admonition.")

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  26. beautiful reflections and a perfect message ... it's a pleasure coming to your blog everytime... and how could you think of such beautiful touching names for all your blogs? :)

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Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~William Wordsworth