Kim Wilbanks

What’s your favorite flower?  I love roses, pansies and gardenias but, if I had to choose one, I would have to say hydrangeas.  They remind me of vintage lace. 

I held a tea at my home last weekend and I purchased some flowers from the grocery store to make a centerpiece.  The color scheme was white and pale blue and green.  I picked out some white roses, white carnations and baby’s breath for my winter arrangement.  I also chose the most delicate blue and white hydrangeas.  It was going to be beautiful.

The evening before the party, I took the flowers out of their wrappings and began working on the arrangement.  When I got to the hydrangeas, they were droopy and the leaves were completely wilted.   I had put them in a vase of water as soon as I got home from the grocery store so I’m not sure why they were so droopy.  Perhaps I damaged the stems when I cut them.   Anyway, I was very disappointed.  I decided to put them in a vase with fresh water and that packet of goodness that comes with store-bought bouquets.  If they perked up overnight, fine.  If not, I just wouldn’t use them.

When I checked on the hydrangeas the next morning, the leaves, which were completely limp the night before,  were standing tall and the blossoms seemed fuller. I was delighted to be able to use them in my arrangement. All it took was the right water. 

This made me think of the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.              (John 4:5-26).

Jesus approached the woman at the well and asked her for a drink of water. She was surprised that he asked her for water because he was Jewish and she was Samaritan. He then began to tell her about the living water he could offer her. She was interested. 

13 Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks of this (well) water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life”  John 4:13-14

Like the hydrangeas, when we are not immersed in the proper water, we become lifeless. If we partake of the living water that Jesus offers, we perk up and become the beautiful creations that God intended. 

How about you?  Do you have the living water offered by Jesus?  I hope so.

I made another interesting purchase at the same grocery store a few days later.  Did you know that you could purchase Eternal water?  Don’t be fooled though.  I don’t think this is what Jesus was talking about.