Have you ever noticed how it always seems to rain in sad scenes?

Or how a thunderstorm rolls in just as a story needs that extra layer of tension? I’ve used weather many times in my writing to heighten emotion. But why do we equate weather with feelings, when the truth is, they’re not tied together at all?

Someone’s world can be torn in two on the most beautiful, sunny autumn day. And someone’s happiest memory might have been born in the middle of a hurricane.

I wish I knew the answer to my own question… but truth is, I don’t.

Rain That Changed Everything

What I do know is this—during the most trying moments of my life, I notice the weather.

Maybe that’s because my biological father died in the rain. I was only fourteen, facing the first major catastrophe of my life. The rain literally changed everything.

Because of the rain, my parents’ van hydroplaned.

 Because of the rain, I lost my dad too soon.

 Because of the rain, my mother feared driving in it.

 Because of the rain, the dynamics of our home shifted forever.

Is the Rain the Enemy?

It would be easy to call the rain my enemy. But in truth, it isn’t.

Rain nourishes the ground, making flowers bloom. On a hot day, those first drops feel like a gift from heaven. Its sound soothes the soul.

And believe it or not—I love the rain. It reminds me of my dad. Not of the accident, but of how much he loved it… and how much he loved me. It feels like a clean slate, like peace washing over everything. I even fall asleep to its sound every night.

What I’ve Learned from the Rain

The atmosphere around you may be beyond your control. Storms will come. Sunshine will fade. But how you choose to see it? That’s yours alone.

You decide whether to call it a blessing… or a curse.

What about you? Do you see the rain as a burden, or as something beautiful?