Spring Of Faith

Spring of Faith

[Jesus said,] “Those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:14

During the summer of 1944, drought caused wells in Harlan County, Kentucky, to dry up. Nancy Farley, like others, boiled water from the brown Cumberland River.

She also carried water for the flowers her mother-in-law, Mintie, grew. One evening, as a grumbling Mintie poured scant dipperfuls of dirty water over the flowers, Nancy remarked the Lord would send water in his time. Mintie gave an exasperated snort. “You think he’s interested in getting us water? I wouldn’t count on that.”

Nancy nodded. “I don’t know how, but he will.”

Mintie frowned and turned toward the house.

Their brick home had revealed one flaw when heavy rains fell shortly after its construction: A leak had appeared in the basement’s corner. Nancy’s husband had dug a three-foot basin to contain the water, but the leak disappeared, and the basin had remained dry for ten years.

One afternoon, Nancy stretched out on the sofa, again praying for rain. Immediately, she jumped up and ran to the basement.

“Come downstairs,” she called to her daughter.

Nancy grabbed a chisel and chopped at the bottom of the basin.

“The sofa is over this spot,” she told her daughter. “The water’s here.”

Suddenly the clay grew dark around the chisel, and soon springwater bubbled up. Nancy’s shout of joy caused Mintie to come grumbling down the steps. When she saw the basin filling, she gasped.

“The Lord gave us water!” Nancy said. “And you’ll never have to pour muddy river water over your flowers again!”

Mintie found her voice. “That will seep out by morning.”

“Oh no, it won’t! The Lord gave it, and he won’t let it run out as long as this family needs it.”

Mintie never had to use river water again on her flowers. Not only did the spring supply water for Nancy’s family, but there was enough for the neighbors, too. In fact, the spring never went dry as long as a member of the Farley family owned the house.

I know because Nancy was my grandmother. —SANDRA

Lord, when I am discouraged, help me to remember times when you provided for my needs. And help me to share those stories to encourage others.

A man leaves all kinds of footprints as he walks through life. Some you see, like his children or his house. Others are invisible, like the prints he leaves across other people’s lives. —MARGARET LEE RUNBECK (1905–1956), WRITER AND AUTHOR