IT'S HOT AND EVERYTHING IS THIRSTY!

 

This screen shot of my I phone weather gives you a glimpse at what we are dealing with here in Texas currently.  (Two weeks ago) I do not know WHY I think if school starts it will begin to get cooler.   It started this week, August 13, and this is what we have coming our way.  I suppose that thought comes from the days when I was a school girl and school started after Labor Day.  It was still hot, and we had NO air-conditioning, but somehow it always seemed fall was right around the corner.  Fun fact for all you city dwellers and young people, we started school that late because the crops needed to all be in before the farm boys and girls could take the time to go to school every day.  There was a shortage of mechanical help in those days and the harvest was important, so school was delayed until the crops were harvested and every hand was needed to help.  

NOW, I have once again gotten off on a tangent, but it does all relate to today's topic.  After many years of having a sprinkler system, my new to me home does not have one.  I am hand watering and dragging hoses around 3 times a week to try and keep things alive.  Thankfully, living in the inner city, I have a small yard, but it will absolutely dry up and shrink back to the root if I do not give it some water.  Perhaps I had gotten lazy, or begun to take for granted a sprinkler system as another modern convenience, but it had not occurred to me I would be the one in charge of supplying the life giving water.  That old muscle memory of dragging hoses around and standing and spot spraying was alive and well.  I quickly slipped back into the routine.

When I purchased hoses, I made certain they were flexible.  These new fangled hoses with reinforcement will give you a hose that lasts a long time, BUT I lose the control I need when pulling those hoses into the next position.  I have ONE outdoor faucet.  Thankfully it has a split which does help me.  Walking back and forth to the front from the back can become tiresome, so I came up with a solution.  Once I get the desired water flow I use that flexible hose as my cutoff while moving the hose.  I bend the hose until the water cuts off and hold it until I get the sprinkler positioned.  Back up and let go and RUN!  I get a few sprinkles, but it is so hot--WHO CARES!  I am saved MANY a step and the chore is made easier.  

While out watering this morning, this little act of stopping the water flow inspired me.  What in my life is creating a kink in the line of the life giving spiritual water to my soul?  What activities, what actions, what distractions cut off that life giving flow?  Without water-physically and spiritually we will surely dry up and eventually die.  Time to give this some thought as I go about my day---while doing the habitual---I need to consider---is this cutting off the flow?  It is amazing what God can use to nudge me and there may be more to come on this.

"Jesus answered,

'If you knew the generosity of God

and who I am,

you would be asking me for a drink,

and I would give you fresh, living water.' "

John 4:10