Hope in Rainbows

Kelly Thompson
Jul 12, 2017
3 min read

July 12, 2017

Lots of people see rainbows.

In Hawaii there seems to be one every day. Here in Florida, they happen quite a bit with afternoon summer thunderstorms, and still never lose their appeal. But what's the likelihood of 3 different people seeing a full {double} rainbow, from 3 different locations at the same time? And what if those people were related {a mother & her 2 daughters}? And what if they all saw the rainbow on the birthday of their husband/father respectively? And how about if the last time they were all together (on Father's Day), they also saw one. Lastly, what if said Patriarch had transitioned into heaven 3 years prior? Some might say coincidence.

But Lovelies, my Faith tells me it is so much more.

Today, on what would have been my dad's 64th birthday, the texts between family members and myself began around dinner. Each of us sharing a picture of a single beer (Yuengling - my dad's favorite), with a caption like Cheers and Happy Birthday to Herb. #herbieshinesbright. Some of us sharing a memory or word of encouragement - something my dad did well, and with great fondness. It was a feel-good way to remember and honor my dad. It was heartwarming to hear from my cousins how much they still love and remember him.

Then my sister sent a text:

"Bday rainbow...it was a full one!" {and this picture below}

A few moments later, my youngest son (knowing nothing about my sister's text) said he "wanted to see the rainbow." My husband looked out the window and amazingly saw one. We ran outside to get a better look.

I replied to the text chain:

"Rainbow here too!" {and these pictures below}

I tried Facetiming my mom to share its beauty but she didn't answer. She was on her way to see sunset at the beach, talking to my 98 year old Grandma (my dad's mom), telling her about our rainbows. As she was talking to her, she walked onto the beach, looked up, and saw a double rainbow of her very own.

My mom continued the text chain:

"Rainbow here!!" {and this picture below}

My dad may not be with us, but he is with us.

Just as God may not be with us, but He is with us.

Messages from heaven are all around. Angels are everywhere. God exists all around us. But the inexplicable power that which He has freely given to His angels, and the power that He has given to us as humans should we CHOOSE to acknowledge it, see it, believe it, and live it, is awe-inspiring.

I believe that tonight my father used his angelic gifts to share with us something beautifully poetic and sent us each a rainbow. It is fact that no single person sees the same rainbow. So he somehow sent each of us one of our very own. A beautiful image. An arc of pure light.

To send his girls something uplifting.

To let us know he is okay.

To connect with us and remind us of our faith. Of God's promise. Of his commitment to us.

The time of flooding-- be they our grief-filled tears or future-filled fears or raindrops or any other number of anxieties that might cloud our vision-- has ended.

It is time to celebrate.

It is time to live.

It is time to be light for the world.

Man, I thought my dad was way cool as a human, but somehow he's even cooler as an angel. Thanks Daddio. I love you.

May you each be delightfully surprised by your own special angels in whatever little winks they may send to you.

Hugs and love and light to you all,

-Kelly