Last Thursday at 11:45 I walked to the kitchen sink and confidently turned on the cold water. I can only imagine the look of surprise, and horror on my face, as a rapidly diminishing stream of water trickled out of the faucet. We immediately sent out a call for help and waited.
You don't often stop to think of all the things you do that require water, but you become keenly aware of them when you don't have it. No washing of any kind, no cooking, no cleaning and under no circumstances should you drink anything at all. I nearly ran out and hugged the well repairman when he arrived.
Within two hours he restored the water supply to our home. It seems fire ants had gotten into the works and gummed them all up. Something so small making such a big mess.
During the hours of waiting for help to arrive I thought about how easily I take things for granted - important things. I thought about faith and prayer and God's presence in my life, and how I am prone to take these precious, life-giving things for granted.
My life would be devoid of hope, peace, joy and purpose without faith. Mercy and grace would be empty words. Unconditional love from the One who holds all things in His hands would be an unopened gift. Do I treasure them as I ought to? How often do I remember to say thank you?
How would it be to find myself disconnected from the One who knows me better than I know myself? To whom would I turn if I didn't know the One who is wiser and more powerful than I can put into words, bends down low and listens to the deepest cries of my heart? And yet, how often do I neglect prayer - too busy or distracted or filled with doubt?
Doing without water for several hours was a little reminder to treasure the precious gifts I've been given and, far too often, hold too lightly.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17
