Matthew 11:28 – Come to me, all you weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (NIV)

John 6:35 – Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (NIV)

I attempted to water a large potted plant from above, considering that's how rain would initially greet it in the wild. The leaves repelled the water and doused both windowpane and windowsill. Amazingly, the lit votive candle stationed nearby remained unaffected. Annoyed, I started to sop up the mess. One towel wasn't making any appreciable headway; obviously, more help was necessary. I considered options.

Should I get more towels, or use the water to clean the sill? I decided to view these "liquid diamonds" as byproducts of a good deed gone bad. How often has that happened to me? Genuinely constructive decisions I made resulted in deleterious consequences. Consequences conspired to batter, limit, and douse my initially positive spirit. Gaining momentum, they resulted in problems and hardships.

Each drop of water symbolically represented these problems. I opted to acknowledge that the problems would "evaporate" by God's touch, if I allowed Him to act. Reflection and reliance upon Him will continue to help me cope. I must remain faithful and trust in His Word. When I'm able, He will show me that these hardships are lessons I can absorb — if I am attentive.

I watched the sunlight evaporate the glittering droplets. My plant never wilted, because it wasn't dry; I was. The candle continued to burn steadily, though I momentarily flickered.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to recognize opportunities in faith that surround us daily. May we use Your loving peace to replenish and nurture our spirits continually. Amen.

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About the author:

Diane Ward <dipa1032@aol.com>
Prospect Heights, New York, USA
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