“When it looks like the sun wouldn’t shine anymore, God put a rainbow in the clouds”. –   Allyson Williams

Dr. Maya Angelou passed away in 2014 at the age of 86, but what a gift she gave to this world, through not only her poetry, but her books and the amazing life she lived. With such titles as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, The Heart of a Woman, and my personal favorite, Mom & Me & Mom. That last title gave readers a very up close and personal glimpse of her sometimes complicated relationship with her mother, but also spoke to how everything came together to shape and form the remarkable woman she was.

I remember watching a live stream of her homecoming service, with the talented songstress, Allyson Williams, singing a beautiful, soul-stirring rendition of the song, “God Put a Rainbow in the Clouds”.

If you haven’t seen it, the video is here:

You’re welcome!

No matter the challenges we face, the calamity we experience, or what disappointments we endure, there is always a rainbow in the cloud.

I know a woman who recently lost her home to foreclosure. Though she was ashamed and despondent, she found comfort through the kindness of friends and co-workers who came forward to help her relocate. To the outsider, it looked like just linens and glasses, but it was so much more than that.

Perhaps you read about the teacher who was in distress because she could not afford the supplies she needed to teach her students. All of us know a public-school teacher who has experienced this. After this woman discussed her plight on a telephone call, she later received donations from strangers who had heard her cry.

And last, but definitely not least, is the story of the daughters of a woman who received a cancer diagnosis. Though the road that they face will be a long and difficult one, they are lifted by their mother’s tenacity, the bond that they share and their ability to lean on each other.  They find strength in the support of their extended family and close friends, the bond that they share and their ability to lean on each other.  They find comfort with the care and compassion of their mother’s medical team, and the power of faith.

God always puts a rainbow in the clouds. We only need to keep still, take a breath and pay attention in order to see it.