Behind The Clouds
March 24, 2020 at 8:28 p.m.
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My mom used to tell me “behind every cloud, the sun shines.”
As a kid, I gave little thought to such cliches. Why so little thought? Because I had no experience in weathering dire circumstances as she did and, therefore, could not relate to those words.
Mom, born in 1909, experienced the trauma of World War I on her family. She personally contracted polio, yet did not allow that dreaded disease to define her life. Later, she knew what it was to suffer the deprivation of the Great Depression.
She experienced the national shock of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. She knew what it was to wonder if her son, Dan, would survive World War II while serving in the U.S. Navy. She shared the anguish of friends with children serving in the armed forces during the Korean Conflict. She experienced the Cuban Missile Crisis’ eminent threat of nuclear war. She knew what it was to see me, her adopted son, serving in the USAF during the Vietnam War era. Experience was her teacher. That experience reinforced her “sunshine behind every cloud” outlook.
So, as we face this C-virus pandemic and all it’s consequences, let us consider my mom’s philosophy. Let’s remember how God has brought us through the many frightening events of our lives thus far and take assurance that, on the other side of this cloud, there lies a bright and ever-present sun.
Harlen Merchant
Warsaw
My mom used to tell me “behind every cloud, the sun shines.”
As a kid, I gave little thought to such cliches. Why so little thought? Because I had no experience in weathering dire circumstances as she did and, therefore, could not relate to those words.
Mom, born in 1909, experienced the trauma of World War I on her family. She personally contracted polio, yet did not allow that dreaded disease to define her life. Later, she knew what it was to suffer the deprivation of the Great Depression.
She experienced the national shock of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. She knew what it was to wonder if her son, Dan, would survive World War II while serving in the U.S. Navy. She shared the anguish of friends with children serving in the armed forces during the Korean Conflict. She experienced the Cuban Missile Crisis’ eminent threat of nuclear war. She knew what it was to see me, her adopted son, serving in the USAF during the Vietnam War era. Experience was her teacher. That experience reinforced her “sunshine behind every cloud” outlook.
So, as we face this C-virus pandemic and all it’s consequences, let us consider my mom’s philosophy. Let’s remember how God has brought us through the many frightening events of our lives thus far and take assurance that, on the other side of this cloud, there lies a bright and ever-present sun.
Harlen Merchant
Warsaw
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