We lived in a wooded area where I grew up which made cutting the grass around all the trees a job for Dad. After I begged and begged him to let me drive the lawnmower he finally gave in and let me give it a try. I won’t tell you the outcome of my first ride on the big mower…except to say….it was the LAST ride on it too!

As pesky as those trees were to maneuver around to cut the grass they provided beautiful shade in our yard. In the spring and summer they were absolutely gorgeous and helped keep us a little cooler when it got hot. But then, when the fall season came around and the leaves began to fall…well, there was another reason to not appreciate those trees in the yard. Between the wind and the rain eventually all the leaves would fall away…the family raking party would commence…and our woods looked empty, barren…like all the life was gone.

It was then that we could really notice them. Still vibrant green, lush branches, some with berries on them even. They each have a scientific name…but to us…they were all called…evergreens. It never mattered what season it was…you could always count on them to look like they had truly tapped in to the nutrients in the soil, the sun and the water source. Always…ever….green.

The truth is even an evergreen can lose its vibrancy if it doesn’t stay tapped into its source of life. For a plant, water is life! And so it is for us to remain vibrant…evergreen…we have to stay tapped into our source of life. Our physical body needs water and our spirit needs the living water! I love these words of Jesus to the woman at the well in John 4 (MSG)…“Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”

In order to really thrive in this world we must stay connected to Jesus and His living water!