#34 Drink More Water {52 bites}

I’m. So. Thirsty.

That was all I could think about yesterday morning  at 4:30am as I sat, huddled up in a quilt, having my quiet time.

This is never going to work; it’s not even 5am and I feel like I’m dying of thirst! I felt frustrated, couldn’t focus. Why did I decide to do this? I’m sure it was mostly mental–I wasn’t dying of dehydration–but without a big drink of water and my morning cup of tea, I couldn’t keep my mind on task.

Exactly the lesson I needed to learn.

My journal read: 4:30am. SO thirsty. Just want water. Can’t flush toilet. Can’t brush teeth. Can’t wash dishes. Oatmeal? Dishwasher didn’t run last night 🙁 … all silverware dirty. Hmm….

Then, God in his mercy, gave my creative husband a great idea. At 5:30am as he was heading off to work, he took a large stock-pot outside and filled it with snow.

Snow! We had snow!

Of course I knew we had snow and had already grumbled about it plenty in my heart. March 22nd and we woke up to 5 inches of snow. What?!  But then Jeff set the stockpot on top of the woodstove …

and it melted.

Journal: 6am, Melting snow. Grateful. Tea made with snow-water. Grateful. Oatmeal for kids made with snow-water. Grateful. 

We had oatmeal with melted snow. We washed our hands with melted snow. I even brewed tea with melted snow. I gathered up enough into a large pot that by the time the snow was gone mid-day, we had enough melted snow to cook a pot of rice to serve with chicken for dinner.

Thank you, Lord, for provision.

Sure, there were plenty of inconveniences. The bathroom was pretty rank by the end of the day, and the dishes never did seem clean, even though I drizzled snow-water over them and got them mostly clean. But truth be told, our day without water didn’t require any suffering. It was strange, gathering snow into pots melting it down for our meals, but other than my early-morning thirst I never was parched.

But it certainly made me appreciate water.

Here’s what struck me:  I actually had plenty of water to drink from the few pots of snow-water gathered in one morning. The kids didn’t go thirsty. I probably used a gallon in that one day.

But the average American family uses 400 gallons a day.

At the same time, studies show that about 75% of Americans don’t drink enough water. 

Does this strike anyone?

Isn’t it ironic that while people are dying of thirst we use 400 gallons of drinking water a day and yet drink less than half a gallon? Let’s say it’s a family of four, we’re using 398 gallons of drinking water on things other than drinking.

Now I really don’t mean this to be a water tirade. I live in Oregon, on a well, have an abundance of clean water, and have no problem with sprinklers. Us conserving water doesn’t give anyone in Africa clean water.

BUT, here are three suggestions for how our choices can improve our health and the health of those in developing nations.

1. Drink more tap water.

We flush our toilets with drinking water. We water our lawns with drinking water.  And yet, last year Americans spent 15 BILLION dollars on bottled water.

Want to hear something crazy? The UN estimates that the additional cost of “providing safe drinking water and sanitation to those lacking them requires massive investment—estimated at $14-30 billion.”

The amount we spend on bottled water, in a country which already has safe drinking water, could theoretically provide safe drinking water to every person on the planet. 

I know it’s not that simple, but … it is actually pretty simple.

Don’t buy bottled water + send extra money to drill wells = clean water

2. Drink less other stuff

Another easy way to build health and send wealth overseas is by skipping the soda, juice, coffee. I know I’m stepping on toes here, including my own. I love me my hot cup of tea. Just an idea …

3. Use less, drink more

If you do pay to use city water, reducing your usage can free up funds to help others. I was actually amazed at how I could get through the day on 1 gallon of water. I couldn’t do it everyday, but certainly we could cut our usage in half. The result? A lawn that dies and children who live. 

{Thanks for considering these fun ways to build health and bless others. Today’s 52-bites was supposed to be “Start a Garden” but with 5 inches of snow it didn’t seem right! Have a wonderful weekend, and drink some water!}

*Want a way to help today? We’ve raised $675 so far toward a Jesus Well. Would you consider helping us reach our goal of $1000 to drill a well? Thanks so much! Click here to contribute $25 and let us know!