Holiday Fill Up

I heard the shallow gurgling as soon as I opened the window, letting in warm November air. One fountain motor was already burned up by letting the water get too low. I raced outside, grabbed the hose, and headed for the fountain. The almost empty bowl, the barely there trickle of water, and the dried white mineral residue screamed that time was short. In hotter months when my plants beg for water, I never neglect to fill the fountain. In cooler months, when the summer flowers have faded, and the busyness of life moves me in other directions, I often forget my happy little fountain.

As I bent to pick out dried leaves and fill the bowl, I realized I was feeling like my fountain: dried, thirsty, wanting. It is our Savior’s living water that fills us, but I was so busy with holiday shopping and baking and festivities that I hadn’t taken time to let Him refresh me.

Standing there at my fountain, water hose in hand, the words of my memory verse echoed in my mind: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters . . . Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? . . . Give ear and come to Me”(Isaiah 55:1-3).

OH! Spending labor on things I had to do, felt obligated to do, this was emptying me. I don’t know about you, but as a wife and mother, I don’t always take time for myself, and never enough time for my Lord.

God clearly defines rhythms of work and rest for us with the Sabbath expectations. Work is good, however work without the proper rest becomes toil, drudgery. We were created to rest and worship our Lord. When we don’t take this time, we run on empty. Empty for me leads to frustration, anger, bad attitudes, a short temper, depression. Empty leaves me feeling dry, crusty, and struggling – just like my fountain.

So I look at my schedule and reallocate my time. I make Bible study and prayer time a priority in the morning, filling my well with His living water. I make my Sunday rest a priority by worshiping with my church family, and doing as little “work” as possible, filling my well with His living water. And do you know what happens? The more I give to Him, the more I get. Gone is the frustration, anger, attitude, and depression. In its place is the fruit of His Spirit: peace, patience, joy, kindness.

Maybe you feel the trickle of your own shallow well. Maybe you hear the invitation in your own life: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters . . .” Don’t hesitate! Find time to be still with the Lord in His word, in prayer, in worship, and let Him refresh and fill you with His living water. It is just what you need.