a cup of cold water

dear emily,

i just read margaret jones' witty and sensible posting on being sane and single. she has the spirit of jane austen in her!

in responding to your worries about being a wise and loving mommy to your four precious children, i have been prodded back to sweet days that i treasure. oh, to have one of my little ones bouncing on my knee again! thankfully, i occasionally have yours to fill that role.

hans used to tell me that i was a cup of cold water to our children. most days i felt like lukewarm dishwater! there was never an end to diapers to be changed, meals to be prepared, or knees to be bandaged and kissed. after falling into the rocker to nurse the baby, an older child would inevitably want me to read him a story or get him a cup of water.

that is when i felt the weakest and most impatient. i would lean into the
Lord and ask for strength and grace, and He would amply supply that
need. then we would settle into another chapter of "the fantastic mr. fox"
...and fill another cup of water.

and, of course, He would fill another cup for me, too.

matthew 10:42

'if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, i tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."