Ashley gazed out over the brown lawn as she bounced Noah in her arms. His cries nearly did her in. It had been like this for the past week. Every day when she picked him up from daycare, he cried for at least an hour. Her nerves were on edge. It was bad enough she had to leave him in daycare in the first place, but his sadness made it so much worse. She wished she could stay home with him, but paying the mortgage required two salaries. It wouldn’t be as bad if Jacob were home, but he wouldn’t be back from his business trip for four more days.

          Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She shifted Noah to her hip and checked the screen. Mom. She connected the call.

          She raised her voice to be heard over Noah’s cries. “Noah’s a mess, Mom. I’ll have to call you back.”

          “Are you OK, honey?”

          Tears sprang to Ashley’s eyes at the tender tone in Mom’s voice. “I’m just tired. I’ll call you when I get him calmed.”

          “I’ll be there in 15 minutes to give you a break.”

          Ashley glanced around her. Dishes filled the sink, piles of mail sat on the counter, and she hadn’t vacuumed in nearly two weeks. “No, we’re fine.”

          “I won’t take no for an answer. You need help.”

          Ashley started to protest, but Mom had already disconnected. She threw her phone on the counter and wrapped her arms around Noah. She tried the only thing she knew. Whispering in his ear, she sang.

          “Hush, baby hush, mama is here. Don’t be afraid, don’t shed a tear.

          All is well, sweet Noah, mine.

          You’re loved by Jesus, a love so divine.”

          She’d written the song when Noah was first born. There was a time when songs used to pour out of her, but the music had dried up. Just like the lawn outside.

          Noah’s wails turned to whimpers and he slumped against her. Shuddering breaths wracked his little body. Ashley squeezed him and kissed his downy head, inhaling his sweet scent.

          “Hello?” Mom called from the doorway.

          Ashley moved to meet her in the foyer. Mom reached out her arms, and Ashley handed Noah to her.

          “He seems better.”

          “He is. I sang to him.”

          Mom’s face lit. “Your son has excellent taste. I’m glad you’re still singing. You haven’t talked about any songs in a while.”

          “I haven’t written any.”

          “When is the last time you played the piano?”

          Ashley frowned. “I can’t even remember.”

          Mom’s forehead wrinkled. “But you love writing songs.”

          Ashley shrugged. “I don’t have any songs left in me.”

          Mom carried Noah to the sofa. “Come, sit with me for a minute, and then I’ll get to work. I’ll clean the kitchen and make dinner while you play with Noah.”

          “I can’t ask you to do that.”
             “You’re not asking me. I’m your mother and I want to help, especially while Jacob is away. In fact, I’m going to watch Noah Saturday night so you and Jacob can go to the concert at church.”

          A flicker of excitement rose, then died. Ashley would love to go to the concert, but she couldn’t leave Noah. Not on the weekend. “I leave Noah in daycare all week. I can’t leave him on Saturday, too.”

          “You’ll be with him all day, and he’ll be asleep by 7:30. You need to feed your relationship with God. And with Jacob. Go to dinner and the concert, and when you get home, spend time with Jacob while Noah sleeps.”

          “But I get my chores done while Noah sleeps.”

          “Not this Saturday. Your father will come with me. I’ll do the laundry and the cleaning, and your father will take care of the yard.”

          “But…”

          Mom held up a hand. “No buts. We’re doing this.”

                                                                   ~*~

          Ashley and Jacob eased open the front door and entered their sparkling clean house. Mom and Dad greeted them with tired smiles. “How was the concert?”

         Ashley hugged her parents. “The concert was phenomenal. The music was amazing, and the testimony of each of the band members was truly inspirational. Thank you so much for encouraging us to go. I haven’t felt this close to God in a long time.”

          Jacob draped his arm around her shoulders. “And I haven’t felt this close to my wife in a long time. Thank you both. I really appreciate your help around here. It was rough being away for work. Fortunately, I don’t have any other trips planned for a while.”

          “Thank goodness.” Ashley leaned into his side. “How was Noah for you?”

          Mom grabbed her jacket off the back of the sofa. “Noah was no trouble. He went to sleep without much of a fuss. We’ll leave you two to enjoy the rest of your night together.”

          Mom and Dad slipped out the front door and Jacob filled a glass with water. “I mean it when I said I feel closer to you tonight. You’ve been down lately.”

          Ashley pulled out a kitchen chair and sat. “I have been. It’s like this drought. I’ve felt the same way as the grass, kind of dried out and wilted. I haven’t written any songs for a long time, and I haven’t spent time with God. But tomorrow morning, when we go to church, instead of worrying about all the things I need to accomplish, I’m going to focus on God. I need to fill my soul with His living water. And when Noah naps, I’m going back to the piano.”

John 7: 37-38

Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.

God, You promise Your Holy Spirit – the living water – to all who believe in You. If we abide in You, we will be filled. This world draws us in so many directions. We find ourselves too busy to refresh our souls in You. But when we put You first and spend time with You, everything else falls into place. You have a wonderful plan for our lives, and we’ll miss it if we spend too much time in the world. Even good things (ministry, a job, family, friends) can distract us from our time with You. Please help us remember how important it is to spend time with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.