Sharing Joy

"Scuze me!  Scuze me!  Can you see the rainbow?", asked the little boy as he ran up to the stranger getting out of his pickup truck.  Pointing to the sky above the man's head he declared, as only a 5 year old can, "It's Right There."  The man  grinned and looking up, agreed.  Yes indeed, that was a mighty pretty sight.

We had planned on going for a swim that afternoon but rain intervened.  It was storming at the lake and we watched as puddles formed and the wind blew.  And after the wind died down and the sky cleared we looked up and saw a magnificent rainbow in the east, arching over the water.....colors of all kinds,dazzling to the eye.  My grandson Gus had never seen a rainbow.  He lives in Yonkers, just north of New York City, and for some reason he had never seen a rainbow in the flesh, as one might say.  He knew all about them..he recited the colors from red to purple for our information...even including indigo.  Yes, Gus is a master of rainbows...they are his favorite things.

We made a quick trip to the store to pick up some snacks and rest before we went for our delayed swim in the lake.  This is where the above conversation took place.

After the man and Gus admired the rainbow Gus stuck out his hand and said,"Hi. My name is Gus.  What's your name?"   The answer came with a smile....."Bill," the stranger answered..."Glad to meet you, Gus."

Running into the store Gus went up to the clerk.  "Have you seen the rainbow?", he asked.  "Not yet but I know it is beautiful" she replied.  And so it went.  Gus coming up to each customer....getting their attention and saying....Have you seen the rainbow?  And without a single miss each person greeted his question with either a Yes or No, not yet...and a smile.  So many smiles on that rainy afternoon.  So much happiness in seeing a small boy announcing a miracle.  

I like to think that those people who met my Gus felt a little better for that encounter.  

Sharing joy.  That is what it is all about, isn't it?