I am not a fan of church signs.
Most of the time they try to be cute and reduce eternal truth to a few words that often leave room for [mis]interpretaion.
But I saw one today that I DID like: “Dig the well before you are thirsty”.
It takes time to dig a well.
And it’s hard work.
You can’t wake up one morning, decide to dig and expect results in a couple of hours. If you want a reliable source of water to quench your thirst you have to plan ahead.
It’s been my habit for about 25 years to wake early in the morning, read my Bible and journal. I started this practice when my children were young and boisterous and our active household meant once they were awake I’d have no time for quiet meditation.
But after reading Scripture for so long, I’d noticed the stories had become too familiar. I would read through some of them with a “yeah, yeah-heard that before” attitude.
So I committed to SLOW DOWN and force my heart to look carefully and listen closely to what the Spirit was speaking from the page.
I decided I would read just a single chapter each day and copy out a verse or two that stood out into my journal along with notes and comments. I found as I went along that it was harder and harder to choose only a couple of verses, so I began to copy whole chapters.
Of course I missed a day or two here and there so it took about three and a half years.
Just a few months before Dominic left us, I finished my slow journey through the Bible. I had copied out most of it by hand in six journals. I had underlined and circled and annotated the pages, making it my own.
I was digging my well.
I had no clue that I would be desperately thirsty in such a short time.
The morning I received the awful news-my heart shattered, my world spinning, my life undone-words of Truth bubbled to the surface unbidden.
Living Water sprang forth from the deep well of promise that was dug before I knew I needed it.
When I began my slow walk through Scripture, I didn’t know what the future held.
But my Shepherd-Who knows the end from the beginning-was leading me.
When my hands trembled too much to open the pages of my Bible and my eyes were too full of tears to see the print, the words stored up in the well of my heart spilled out to soothe my soul.
I continue to draw from this deep well and drink the Living Water.
It is a source of life and hope and sustaining strength until that day when a well will no longer be needed-when faith will be sight and I possess what has been promised.
Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.
And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.
“And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who [e]heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:1-7 NASB
This is so true! I wish I was better prepared for this journey. I have been surprised at how weak my faith is since losing my son. I would have told you it was stronger and deeper.
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thank you so much for a your sharing. God has placed you in a place where you can direct others who have lost a child. I thank God that he has led me to your blog.
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So very true Melanie and so beautifully expressed ❤️
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I too have struggled with health issues since my Seth Daniel went to Heaven.
Thank you Melanie for again sharing your heart. This phrase stood out, “It is a source of life and hope and sustaining strength until that day when a well will no longer be needed-when faith will be sight and I possess what has been promised”
Amen …..”possess what has been promised”
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Nice read, thank you. I too, think I was being prepared for this tragedy. Not only spiritually, but physically. I’ve also suffered from chronic health problems. One since I can remember and the others as life went on. The same kind of mental issues come up with chronic pain. Although not as intense, they are still there. I’m constantly adjusting my diet, taking meds and dealing with pain. Pain in my head from my sinuses, infections…. Knee surgery from a bad injury, gallbladder removed, kidney stones, dental problems, sleep disorders…Then I have peripheral neuropathy (fancy words for nerve damage) in my feet. Each one can change your life to certain amount. Each one can bring about suffering issues and how to manage them. As in your case, my well was already dug.
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Roger, I know what you mean-I have a number of health issues and they have definitely been impacted by the grief.
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