Smells Like Rain
July 13, 2020 7:37 PM
Averine Penningtom
I just finished reading a short article which instantly caught my eye when I turned on my computer and went to Yahoo. The article was entitled “Why You Can Smell Rain” (Pocket Worthy, Stories to Fuel Your Mind, The Conversation/Tim Logan) In the article, a weather expert explains petrichor – the pleasant, earthy scent that accompanies a storms first rain drops.
The article goes on to explain in scientific terms why there is a distinctive smell just moments before a rain event. Let me emphasize that my story is not to disprove or discount the facts presented by the expert. I would just like to share a true story from the viewpoint of another ‘true expert.’ I think this will really bless your heart!
My daughter and her family had just moved back to Texas from another state back in 2009. They were temporarily living with my husband and I while they found a place. I had the wonderful privilege of being around my first granddaughter and seeing her antics every day. I don’t recall her exact age, but she was just learning to talk and still had difficulty communicating what she wanted to say. On this particular morning I remember being in her room picking out something to dress her in for the day. She was still in her jammies and standing up in her crib. It had started to rain, a soft shower that we seldom see anymore. I was chatting with my granddaughter as I dressed her and mentioned how nice the rain smelled. Her comment back to me was, “It smells like him.” I thought perhaps I had misunderstood her baby talk so I asked her to repeat what she said. Again, she said as distinctly as possible, “It smells like him.”
I was confused so I asked who she was talking about. She said, “You know, Gammie (she had a hard time saying Grammie) . . . HIM! She seemed frustrated that I didn’t know who she was talking about. I asked if she was talking about her Daddy or perhaps Pop (my husband). She started jumping up and down in the crib and saying, “No . . . No . . . HIM.” Now bear in mind there were no significant ‘HIMS’ in her life at that early age, other than the two men I had mentioned. So, I asked once more, who she could be talking about. She just pointed to the ceiling and said, “HIM . . . He smells like rain!”
I was floored! From the mouth of babes! My very young granddaughter, less than two years old, was trying to tell me what Jesus smelled like. You can believe this story or not, but I will swear on my Bible that it is true! I have always pondered this in my heart and wondered how she could know such a thing. There can only be two explanations: 1) Supposing our souls are sent to earth from heaven, she was young and innocent enough to still remember HIS smell from her soul being previously with the Lord before she was conceived, or 2) Jesus was visiting her after her birth and she recognized HIS smell. It is somewhat comforting to think that the Lord Himself would come to check on the welfare of His little ones. I can’t tell you whether either of these reasons would stand up to scientific scrutiny, but I do know that my precious granddaughter was adamant in her proclamation, “He Smells Like Rain!”
I don’t know about you, but that makes perfect sense to me. So just in case you’re wondering . . . if it SMELLS LIKE RAIN . . . Jesus is near!
Hosea 6:3
3)“Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”
James 5:7-8 7) “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter ran. 8) Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Update – the granddaughter in this story is now a 6th grader and I am so happy to let you know that she has accepted Jesus as her Savior and Lord. I’m looking forward to introducing her to all of you someday in Glory.
Blessing to all,
Averine
