Water by Barry Hughes

On this warm sunny morning I walked upon this pool, a new addition to the front yard of the home. It was full of water, balls of various sizes, a couple of water guns and the always popular colander. I must admit, it is the colander that caught my eye. (I would have been the kid playing with a colander!) It doesn’t take much imagination to picture all the fun had by the little ones who live here. Toys and water, what more could a child need to make it a great day?

In my childhood, during the hot summer days of central Arkansas, we often found some relief by running through a sprinkler. When the temperatures stayed above 100 degrees for days on end, we resorted to filling up wash tubs with water and just sitting in them under the shade of the soaring hickory tree outside our back door. When the heat would break, and it finally rained, we would play in the water as it rushed down the ditch that followed the steep road on the hill on which we lived. Best of all, a couple of times a summer my momma would take us to the swimming lake for a morning of play. My, how water could make a difference in our days!

Water is vital to life. Water covers the majority of our planet. Water comprises 60% of our bodies. Water brings color to our lawns and food to our table. Water brings soothing comfort to fevered brows and weary bodies.

The scriptures of my religion speak of living water and healing water and cleansing water and water that sustains, even in the driest of deserts. Water marks us in baptism and welcomes us into a family. No matter our age, water still can make a difference in our days.

Peace.