Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of Mom’s accident. Today, I’d like to share an article she wrote several years ago that is meaningful to us as a family–especially now that she’s gone.
Written by Rachel H. Witmer
God said to Noah, “I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my permanent promise to you and to all the earth. .” I have a rainbow story, too. . .
Sometimes I have struggles. Sometimes I have fears-big fears. I have fears about the future, fears about money, fears about my family. My family–what if something happened to them? What if one of them would get sick? That seemed too overwhelming. I recoiled at the very thought. What if God took Ernest? I would be all alone. Oh how tight I held onto them. But God began to whisper, “Trust me.”
One morning the struggles were especially intense. I was crying out to God. . .I was pleading with God. After awhile I felt my heart surrender.
Later that day I jumped in the van and ran up town. The Christian radio station was tuned into Moody Bible Institute. Pastor Joseph Stowell was speaking. He quoted the verse, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” He repeated it several times. Those words went deep into my heart.
The evening of that same day we, as a family were returning from a ball game. As we drove through town a rainbow appeared. It was a BEAUTIFUL rainbow! It was complete from one end to the other and such colors! Not only was there one-it was double. It was two complete rainbows that were more beautiful than any I had ever seen! While we exclaimed about the rainbows my heart remembered the verse God had given me earlier that day. It seemed that He was saying to me, “I still keep my promises.”
In the succeeding days and months God would give me that verse over and over. It popped up in the things I was reading, in sermons, in prayers. It came in many ways at times when I least expected it, and He sent more rainbows.
The message began to take root. I began to believe it with all my heart. I felt God’s love. The verse and the rainbow were OUR special thing.
Then one day it happened! I received a call from the doctor. . .Kristi’s MRI showed that she does have a tumor in her brain. . .Oh, Father, I can’t do this. I CAN’T!
As we traveled with Grandpa and Grandma (my parents) I sat in the back of the van. Someone spotted the ends of a rainbow. We watched and the entire rainbow emerged. Grandma exclaimed, “We don’t usually see such brilliant colors,” and I knew that God had just whispered to me, “Yes, you can handle this because I am with you.”
Two weeks later we traveled home after spending the day with doctors, listening to their diagnosis, discussing some of the options” My heart was heavy with the weight of it all Music was playing; it was dark outside. Suddenly I became aware of the words they were singing. . . ‘I trace the RAINBOW through the rain, And feel the PROMISE is not vain That mom shall TEARLESS be.” God can even send rainbows in the dark! What an awesome God! Two days later at the Ladies Retreat we sang that same song. I pondered, again, this message from God!
Another day we received an e-mail from a friend. She was sharing about a time when one of their children had medical problems. She wrote, “Whenever we had a bad day, which was often, we would look for a rainbow because when Noah was in the ark God gave him a rainbow. – -” A rainbow! I think when my Father wants to draw this child close and give her a hug, He sends a rainbow. I love rainbows and I LOVE HIM!
