When my children were little, and even when they were not so little, I did a lot for them. And by a lot, I mean I tended to wait on them hand and foot. Anything they needed, I was right there, and that is putting it mildly. Before you get your knickers in a twist over that, I had my reasons. Would I have them do a little more for themselves now if I had it to do over, maybe a little. Life is a learning process. Feel better? Good. Let’s keep going.
One of the things I always did for my children, and still do, is ask them if they need something to drink. Maybe that is because somewhere in the back of my mind I know that staying hydrated is one of the most important things we do for our bodies. I loved handing them the cup of water (our drink of choice) and watching them put it to their little lips and see their thirst quenched. My youngest used to ask for a glass of “cold, cold, cold water.” I always made sure to put in plenty of ice.
Last night, we had pizza. I had worked four of my five jobs AND mowed the front and backyard and was way too exhausted to cook. Pizza is my favorite, so this made for a perfect excuse to buy it. I know what you are thinking. What does pizza have to do with water? Well. A lot. Pizza makes me so thirsty! I wake up in the night feeling like I am in the middle of a dessert with no oasis. Maybe it does that to you too. Or maybe I’m just weird like that. Anyway…
After eating my pizza and quick bit of straightening up, I laid down without having drank much water. I usually drink a big glass before bed ,when I’ve had pizza, to try and counteract the salt content and resulting thirst. But no. Not this time. Where was my brain!? The thirst immediately hit me as my head hit the pillow. What had I done?! Noooooooo!
The thought of getting up was just too much. I had my phone nearby, which a lot of us do these days, and I texted my youngest son three simple words, “I need water.” I did so not really expecting him to bring me any, but I figured it was worth a shot. I laid in the dark, listening for any sign he was stirring. I wondered if I would hear my phone telling me there was a message from him. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. And then…
As I was drifting off to sleep, the door opened. I heard him, “Mom.” He brought me water. He said he was sorry he hadn’t seen the message earlier. I thanked him from the bottom of my heart, as I wrapped my hands tightly around the cold cup and drank like my life depended on it. If you’ve ever been really thirsty, you know the bliss I was feeling as I drank. Pure joy!
The joy I felt in that moment was not just because I had water, which I so desperately needed, but joy from knowing my son had internalized one of the lessons I taught him by example. He got out of bed to take care of me, to get me a drink, because I needed it. He cared about me. He was being the hands and feet of God.
Finding Joy: Even when a gesture is small, the joy found there is often very, very big. Have you become numb to those experiences? Try and anticipate them with childlike enthusiasm. Look for them. Drink them in when the they arrive.
And hey! What about giving joy too?! Is there something you can do today to give someone a joy moment like the one I had last night? Maybe just ask someone if they’d like a drink of water. You will be surprised how much the act of doing something for someone else brings joy to you as well.
Related Scripture:
Matthew 10:42 – And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Proverbs 22:6 – Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
John: 4:14 – But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John: 7:37 – 38 – On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Very nice article. I really liked it. Thank you.
Thank you so much! This just made my day. You just gave me one the very types of joys I was talking about. Bless you!