Norah painted this rainbow some time ago at church.
It's been raining all day.

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. -Genesis 9:16

With verses like the one above, I was taught that the rainbow serves as a reminder to us that God promised never to flood the entire earth again. (And I guess it could do this). But, I looked more closely at the verse above or rather, looked at it in context and noticed something that I hadn't seen before. In all the verses leading right up this, God is speaking in the first person. "I will establish my covenant with you..." He says. And "Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds..." Who else generally controls the weather but God? This verse comes right after those and God is the one who is still speaking. He says, "Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember..." So, the rainbow is technically a reminder to God of what He promised us, not the other way around.

I think that's interesting. It makes me rethink how I use symbols in my own life. I used to think this kind of sentimentality was basically useless. You know, my wedding ring, for example. I never thought it may actually serve to help me keep my vows. Up till now, I thought its main purpose was to let all the restless men I passed know that I was taken. And, these days, Norah on my heels and my pregnant middle does basically the same thing. But, if God takes the time to look at something and then think about it and remember... like the rainbow, I guess my ring should actually do more of that kind of thing for me. And from now on it will. I'm more sentimental about it all of a sudden and I think that's okay.