Alive and Well

On my grandparents’ property was a hand well pump not far from their vegetable garden. As kids, we took great pleasure in pulling down on the handle, waiting a few pumps for the inevitable gush of water to run through our fingers. We were always eager to help Grandpa nourish his abundant garden if it meant we could operate the water pump. Oh, the smell of freshly picked carrots as the rich earth was rinsed away under the spout!

Flash forward a decade and you find me working on a strawberry farm during summer break. One memorable day was a particularly long and tiring day. The field we were planting was parched from an extended period without rain. The planter had two seats, as I remember, and was pulled along by the tractor. I occupied one seat for most of the day, tediously setting seedlings in a never-ending loop of plant holders. The tractor kicked up dust that the wind eagerly stuffed into my ears, my eyes, everywhere! I have never been so dirty! I could not wait to get home and wash the day away.

Do you ever feel like a fledgling strawberry plant, popped into dry, unforgiving earth, thirsty for a good drink? There have been seasons in my own life journey where I have just been waiting for the rain. At those times, I find scripture like Isaiah 12:3 very reassuring.

“You will receive your salvation with joy

As you would draw water from a well.”

Flash forward, this time hundreds of years from Isaiah, to hear these words from John 4:14:

“But whoever drinks of the water that I [Jesus] will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

These words remind me that cleansing grace is already overflowing for me. During my dry seasons, I am encouraged to anticipate life-giving refreshment with confidence.

Thanks to Jesus, I am like the veggies in my grandfather’s garden, carefully tended and never neglected!