Article January 1, 2002 ISSUE

The watering can

By Jillie Periton,—England

Olly, the ginger cat, lay dozing under a lavender bush.

It was a hot day. His eyes opened just enough to make sure the bumble bee didn't land on his twitching tail. Poppy, Jack's big sister, was settling herself in the apple tree with a new book. Jack lay on his tummy, trying to direct a column of marching ants on a new route home to their ant hill. He felt hot and bothered

Digby was the problem. Jack was scared to walk past Digby's house on his way back from school. Digby liked to lie in wait for Jack, jumping out from behind the wall and frightening him, calling him horrid names. Jack had had enough — he said he wasn't going to school anymore, and that was that. But he liked learning new things with his friends. He was in a stew, not knowing what to do.

As the ants would not change their travel plans, Jack climbed up into the tree to sit beside his sister. He let the whole story tumble out. Poppy listened, and when Jack had finished his tale of woe, she said she had a story to tell him.

“When Olly was a kitten and ready to go outside onto the grass for the first time, I was feeling mischievous,” she said. “So I picked up an old, rusty watering can and started to sprinkle some cold water over his head.

“Olly had never met a watering can or felt cold water sprinkles. All he had ever known was love, from the day he was born. So what did he do? He just looked up at the watering can, lay down on his back, purred, and waited to have his tummy scrunchled. To him, the water sprinkles were not cold. The watering can didn't frighten him. He was not afraid, because he didn't know what fear was. Olly couldn't imagine anything that wasn't love.

“You see, Jack, this story is like you and Digby,” continued Poppy. “God loves you and Digby the same — because you are both His children. He made you both loving, with not one mean or frightening thought. God is pouring love on you all the time. Because God is everywhere, His love is everywhere.”

Jack thought about God loving both him and Digby. He thought about the watering can showering love on all of God's children. He promised Poppy that he would go to school the following day, even if he felt wobbly about it. God had never let him down. He would think of Digby and himself as drenched in love.

The following day, he rounded the corner in front of Digby's house. But instead of lurky feelings, he knew that because God was everywhere only loving thoughts could come down from Digby's wall. Looking up, he saw Digby sitting on the wall next to Doodle, his dog. Digby called down to Jack, asking if he'd go with him to sail his new model ship on the pond. Jack was surprised because Digby was so different — all friendly, with a big sunny smile. Jack felt happy and shouted up to Digby, “Come on, let's go!”

Off they scampered, followed by Doodle. It was, as if they'd always been best buddies.

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