It was raining heavily where I live today and my kids normally walk about four minutes to and from the bus stop on our road. I jumped in the car and picked them up just a couple of minutes before their buses arrived. My older kid asked me why I came to grab them today and I said, “because it was raining.”

We sit there for just a few minutes and my youngest jumped in and asked the same question. My response was the same.

Together (now empowered because they outnumber their mom) they then reply, “but it’s not raining now.”

I say, “it was when I left to get you and I didn’t want you to walk home in the rain.”

My youngest then says emphatically, “WELL, I had an umbrella.”

It’s simple really. I left because of the rain, it stopped, and I had already made decisions out of consideration of care for them that I didn’t need to undo.

Our situation hadn’t changed, the weather had. We bantered for a few minutes because they didn’t see the rain (and they are their mother’s children), even though it was evident in the air and my actions.

I asked them at the end of the conversation if they preferred me not to pick them up when it was raining and I bet you can guess how they responded.

Sometimes we find ourselves in a downpour wishing someone would be there to get us. Other times we find ourselves sitting explaining our perspectives to make ourselves seem sensible. But in the end, most of us really just want someone to care enough about us to show up when we need it, even if it seems the rain has passed.

Rain or shine, I’m willing to be foolish for you, don’t fear you’re alone when it comes to that.

I hope those who need to see it do and that the message is met how I intend but I’m prepared to defend my foolish care.