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 realized it was that time again. He stepped off his mat, rolled it up, and stood it in the corner of the room. His bare feet carried him to the two empty buckets, and he lifted them as he turns the door handle to exit his home. He greeted his friend Amos who had his family’s faded blue and white buckets. The two shoeless boys raced through the dusty streets toward their destination over two kilometers away: the tap. Collecting water for their family was a huge responsibility for both, and they must hurry to beat the crowd. If they arrived too late, they would spend hours waiting in the queue for water. Keeping mother waiting for water would not be good either.
As they wound through the streets, they quickly jumped over Coke bottles, dodged clucking chickens, and smelled frying vintembua (fried donuts sold on the side of the streets by community women). Chikondi waved 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 running faster… their swift pace urged on by the importance of their task. Rounding the last bend, they saw 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 dropped their buckets on the grass and rested their tired legs until it was their turn.
Once they fill their buckets, Chikondi and Amos each hoisted one bucket onto their heads (over 25 pounds), while they held the other one by their sides. The two-kilometer walk was not as easy going home. Not only would they need to travel more slowly with such a heavy burden, but they would not want to spill too much. Coming home with only a half full bucket of water would infuriate mother. And it would mean he would have to do this task all over again today so they could have enough water for the whole day.
Chikondi’s stomach began to rumble as he cleared the first bend. The rising sun beat 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 wished he could stop to buy one, but he knew he must get home quickly. He needed to concentrate more as the buckets seem to get heavier. These distractions would cause him to splash out too much of his precious cargo. The weight of the bucket on his head started hurting him, each step causing sharp pain at the back of his neck, and the blisters on his hand began ripping open again. Changing hands, he gave himself a pep talk and continued towards home, now only a short distance away. He said goodbye to Amos, hoping they could see each other on the football pitch later.
As he approached home he heard his little brother call, “Chikondi is home!” Gift ran to his brother, taking the bucket from his hands. What a relief! With that burden removed, Chikondi also took off the bucket from his head. Carrying it in his hands for the last 200 meters was easy for this seasoned athlete.
Mother greeted him at the door of their home with a large smile on her face. “Zikomo, my 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 this 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 water 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?
THANKSGIVING 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
- Download these papers for your children to write and draw what they are thankful for today. (Make one each day of this devotion series.)
- 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. Click HERE for a FREE PRINTABLE of Psalm 100. If you need ideas on how to memorize Scripture with your family, click here to see some of my favorites.)
(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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