He quenches the thirst that comes from being separated from our Heavenly Home

The Water of Life

By Hilary Weeks

- In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger…
- Even mild dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 3%...
- Lack of water is the number one trigger of daytime fatigue…
- 8-10 glasses of water could significantly ease back and joint pain…
- A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or printed page?

We all know how important water is!  Every one of us at one time or another has been so thirsty that we would have trampled anything that got between us and a cold glass of water.  Maybe it was after a long run on a summer day, or maybe after eating a rich piece of cheesecake.  Perhaps we have felt that kind of thirst after fasting.  Make no mistake, there is nothing like putting a refreshing glass of water to your lips and drinking until the thirst is entirely quenched.

Water is essential to life.  We can’t live without it.  Nothing can.

Many of us are familiar with Helen’s story….The first word she recognized as a word, understanding the meaning and making the connection between what was being signed into her hand and what she was feeling pour over her hand was…water.

It wasn’t “doll,” though that was the first gift that Anne Sullivan gave Helen.  It wasn’t “mom” or “dad” though Helen knew and loved them dearly.  It was “water.”   This is the experience as described by Helen’s own words:

“We walked down the path to the well-house, attracted by the fragrance of the honeysuckle with which it was covered.  Someone was drawing water and my teacher placed my hand under the spout.  As the cool stream gushed over one hand she spelled into the other the word water, first slowly, then rapidly.  I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motions of her fingers. Suddenly I felt a thought; and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me.  I knew then that “w-a-t-e-r” meant the wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand.  That living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free!

It would have been difficult to find a happier child than I was as I lay in my crib at the close of that eventful day and lived over the joys it had brought me, and for the first time longed for a new day to come.”

Interesting that Helen would describe that moment as the mystery of language being revealed.  We know who has the power to reveal, to make known, open to our understanding…the Holy Ghost.  I believe the Spirit opened her mind to the mystery of language.  I believe that is how the connecting finally happened.

Then Helen uses these words to describe the word water – “living,” “light,” “hope,” “joy”, “set it free!.”  The very same words we use to describe the Savior.  When I think of the Savior as living water, it inspires a sense of awe and reverence.  As water is to our physical bodies, so the Savior is to our souls.  He quenches the thirst that comes from being separated from our Heavenly Home. Through the living water that only He can offer, the thirst of loneliness, fear, doubt and discouragement can all be satisfied.

“With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3)
“Every one that thirsteth, come ye to the water.” (2 Nephi 9:50)
“If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” (John 7:37)
“Partake of the water of life freely.” (D&C 10:66)

I can understand the smallest part of what Helen felt that night as she fell asleep because through the Savior I have felt that same excitement for life.  Because of Him I look forward to a new day to come.  He is our source of joy, of light, of hope.  May we all seek to partake of the water of life.