I’m Thankful for Clean Water
“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)” John 7:37-39
As the sun begins shining into Chikondi’s house, he realizes it’s time. He steps off his mat, rolls it up, and stands it in the corner of the room. His bare feet carry him to the two empty buckets, and he lifts them as he turns the door handle to exit his home. He greets his friend Amos who has his family’s faded blue and white buckets. The two shoeless boys race through the dusty streets toward their destination over two kilometers away: the tap. Collecting water for their family is a huge responsibility for both, and they must hurry to beat the crowd. If they arrive too late, they will spend hours waiting in the queue for water. Keeping mother waiting for water will not be good.
As they wind through the streets, they jump over Coke bottles, dodge clucking chickens, and smell frying vintembua (fried donuts sold on the side of the streets by community women). Chikondi waves to a group of his friends, dressed in sharp uniforms with backpacks who are walking to school. But not Chikondi. He must collect water and do other jobs at home. Mother wanted him to attend school, but when Father left to find work in Eastern Province, that left many jobs for the whole family, and especially for Chikondi, the oldest boy. Without water their family couldn’t live. Water or school? They chose water.
As they got closer and closer to the tap, the boys began to run faster… their swift pace urged on by the importance of their task. Rounding the last bend, they see only a short line of men, women, and children waiting for their turn at the tap. Thankfully they had beaten the crowd yet again. They drop their buckets on the grass and rest their tired legs until it is their turn.
Once they fill their buckets, Chikondi and Amos each hoist one bucket onto their heads (over 25 pounds), while they hold the other one by their sides. The two-kilometer walk will not be as easy going home. Not only will they need to travel more slowly with such a heavy burden, but they will not want to spill too much. Coming home with only a half full bucket of water will infuriate mother, something that would not be hard for the whole family.
Chikondi’s stomach begins to rumble as he clears the first bend and the rising sun beats down on his dark head, causing drops of sweat to stream down his face. “It is gonna be another hot day.” Seeing the bananas at Aunty Charity’s market stand, Chikondi wishes he could stop to take one, but he knows he must get home quickly. He needs to concentrate more as the buckets seem to get heavier. These distractions will cause him to splash out too much of his precious cargo. The weight of the bucket on his head starts paining him, each step causing sharp pain at the back of his neck, and the blisters on his hand begin ripping open again. Changing hands, he gives himself a pep talk and continues towards home, now only a short time away. He says goodbye to Amos, hoping they could see each other on the football pitch later.
As he approaches home he hears his little brother call, “Chikondi is home!” Gift runs to his brother, taking the bucket from his hands. What a relief! With that burden removed, Chikondi also takes off the bucket from his head. Carrying it in his hands for the last 200 meters is easy for this seasoned athlete.
Mother greets him at the door of their home with a large smile on her face. “Zikomo, son.” They have another day of this life-giving resource, WATER, and Chikondi sighs deeply. He has completed this exhausting task for another day, but he knows he will do it all again tomorrow.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What surprised you about this story?
How many places can you get water inside and outside of your home? (Count the faucets and spigots in your home and in your yard, and don’t forget the washing machine’s line!)
Why is water so valuable to a family? What would you have to do if you didn’t have water available in your home?
How would God want your family to help provide clean water to people around the world?
ACTION ITEMS:
- Research digging a well in a place around the world who doesn’t have one. Could this be a Christmas present that your family decides to give in honor or memory of someone this year?
- Choose a non-profit organization to sponsor a well to be dug in Jesus’ name. Find out more about The Water Project’s Work in Zambia at www.thewaterproject.org
- Find the book “A Long Walk to Water” to read together as a family (check the age ranges for your particular family). This chapter book would be a fascinating read for Christmas vacation or the new year.
SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
(Psalm 100 is a classic portion of Scripture for our families to memorize during this Thanksgiving season. While some families are accustomed to memorizing verses, this may be your family’s first time. Whatever season you are in, pick either a verse or two or the whole chapter to work on these next 10 days leading up to Thanksgiving. It will be a sweet memory from this holiday with your family. You may even want to challenge your family to memorize these verses and then say them together at your Thanksgiving celebration. If you need ideas on how to memorize Scripture with your family, click here to see some of my favorite ideas.)
Psalm 100
(A psalm. For giving grateful praise.)
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;
Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good, and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.
(If you already have Psalm 100 memorized, try Psalm 95 instead.)
PRAYER TIME:
Thank God for clean water for drinking, cleaning, and cooking. Thank God that you have access to water in many places in your home. Ask Him to help you know how you can use what you have to bless others around the world who don’t access to clean water.
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