On our recent trip to Jamaica, my husband and I planned to unwind, soak in the tropical vibes, and enjoy some new adventures together. Being at the beach is my happy place and I was looking forward to enjoying the sun, some lobster and the sound of the waves splashing on the shore. The slower the pace the better.  While my hubby loves the slower pace, he is also all about adventure. While I pictured myself lounging in the shade, sipping on something tropical and cooling, he had a conversation with the tour representative and was envisioning ATV rides and horseback riding through the water. Somewhere between relaxation and excitement, we were determined to have an amazing experience together.

 

When my husband suggested the ATV and horseback riding excursion, I hesitated. The thought of bumping along a dusty trail on an ATV and sitting on a horse in nearly 90-degree heat didn’t exactly scream “vacation” to me. I thought about the sun, the sweat, and honestly, the potential smell of a hot horse in that Caribbean heat! But, he was all in, and after all, we were in Jamaica—why not try something new? Plus, the adventure of a lifetime package of course was non-refundable, so there was no backing out.

 

I went to bed hoping for the best, planning my outfit for a day of activity in the heat and humidity. Long sleeve SPF shirt, check! Water shoes, check! Sunshades, check. Hat, check! I was outfit ready, but as much as I tried to get excited, part of me couldn’t shake the feeling that this was going to be a lot more than I bargained for. Little did I know, God had something else in store. Sometimes, He takes our plans and shifts them in ways that turn out better than anything we could have planned ourselves.

As we moved through the excursion, I realized that sometimes it’s the clouds that save us. I’d been worried about the heat, but instead, the day turned into a memory I’d treasure. In fact, the whole experience felt almost romantic—the rain adding a quiet beauty to the adventure. Instead of feeling uncomfortable, I felt alive and thankful for this unexpected twist.

The next morning, as we got ready to head out, clouds started to gather in the sky. At first, I didn’t think much of it because we had been expecting rain all week. The weather app on my phone showed a 55% chance of scattered thunderstorms. No sooner than I checked the app, the skies opened up and heavy rain started. By the time the bus picked us up it had started and stopped raining several times. 

 

By the time we arrived at the excursion site, it had stopped raining. However, those clouds were not going anywhere. Then came a light sprinkle. I figured it would pass quickly, as most Caribbean rain does, but the clouds stayed and so did the gentle rain. My first thought? Well, this just might make things interesting.

 

And interesting it was. Instead of scorching sun and heat, we got a perfect layer of cloud cover and the refreshing rain. What could’ve been an exhausting day under the sun was transformed into a cooling, rejuvenating adventure. The dust we might have kicked up on the ATVs was dampened by the rain, so there wasn’t the cloud of dirt I’d feared. Some mud, but it stayed on the ATV thankfully and it didn’t keep my hubby from driving 60 mph on the sand. SMH.  The horse ride turned out to be a relaxing trot through the waves on a horse called “Boss Lady”. My hubby rode “The Best Man”. It was made even more peaceful by the soft patter of raindrops around us.

As we moved through the excursion, I realized that sometimes it’s the clouds that save us. I’d been worried about the heat, but instead, the day turned into a memory I’d treasure. In fact, the whole experience felt almost romantic—the rain adding a quiet beauty to the adventure. Instead of feeling uncomfortable, I felt alive and thankful for this unexpected twist.

And it got me thinking about how clouds in life, like that rainy Jamaican sky, can bring us blessings. We often look at clouds as negative things that get in the way of our plans, obstacles that stand between us and the “perfect” day. But in that moment, I realized that clouds—and the challenges they sometimes represent—can become beautiful and even essential parts of our journey.