Read

"Living Water"

Published:
January 16, 2024
November 24, 2020
Read "Living Water", a poem about work ethic.|Read "Living Water", a poem about work ethic.

A dishwasher seemed essential,
so when mine broke down—
despite Covid knocking at my door,
I went out and bought one.
The delivery date was after lockdown,
but the installer arrived as scheduled.
Wiping his cracked brown shoes
on the rug, he said the store was closed,
but they were honoring deliveries.
Working on my laptop at the kitchen table,
I asked if the company would keep paying
its employees. No, he said, and shrugged.
I wanted to hug him, but, of course,
I kept my distance. Once he took a call from
his kids’ school—an upcoming meeting
he promised to attend. The job took two hours,
as he hummed Blue skies smiling at me,
making me grin, though the day was dreary.

After he tested his work and was sure
all was well, he loaded up his tools, pulling
on a stained and faded jacket, smiling sweetly,
missing teeth. Would he be insulted
if I over-tipped him? I took the chance,
guessing what he made went to decent
shoes and dental work for his children.
His acceptance was a gift. I didn’t know
he’d be the last person in my home for months
or that I’d still think of him now—when I hear
the hum and churn of the dishwasher—
a fellow traveler through unknown waters.

Creators:
Judith Sornberger
Published:
January 16, 2024
November 24, 2020
On a related note...
How Service Helped Me Find a Deeper Way to Live

How Service Helped Me Find a Deeper Way to Live

Mary Grace

Helping Others Learn The Stock Market on Clubhouse

Helping Others Learn The Stock Market on Clubhouse

Grotto

Finding Joy in Daring to Be Different

Finding Joy in Daring to Be Different

Grotto

Easter Celebrations by Grotto Network

Easter Celebrations by Grotto Network

Grotto

Finding Comfort in This Medieval Woman’s Words

Finding Comfort in This Medieval Woman’s Words

Mary Frances Myler

42 Ideas for the Clutter You Planned to Throw Away

42 Ideas for the Clutter You Planned to Throw Away

Mary Claire Lagroue

Building Community Bridges with ASL

Building Community Bridges with ASL

Grotto Shares

Employing Adults with Autism: The Right Decision

Employing Adults with Autism: The Right Decision

Grotto

The Benefits of Raising Children with a Digital Village

The Benefits of Raising Children with a Digital Village

Laura MacLean Reynolds

Celebrating Mass in the Ngorongoro Crater

Celebrating Mass in the Ngorongoro Crater

Grotto

5 Valuable Lessons from ‘The Great British Baking Show’

5 Valuable Lessons from ‘The Great British Baking Show’

Brandy Norton

“Pantoum at Mercy-by-the-Sea”

“Pantoum at Mercy-by-the-Sea”

Judith Sornberger

Feeding Children on the Street in Kenya

Feeding Children on the Street in Kenya

Grotto

Blessed Chiara Badano Sets an Example We All Can Follow

Blessed Chiara Badano Sets an Example We All Can Follow

Katie Faley

Podcast S1 | Ep1: Finding Awe

Podcast S1 | Ep1: Finding Awe

Grotto

5 Tips for Organizing a Small Apartment

5 Tips for Organizing a Small Apartment

Bethany Meola

3 Tips for Shopping Sustainably

3 Tips for Shopping Sustainably

Mary Cunningham

How My Morning Coffee Transformed My Spiritual Life

How My Morning Coffee Transformed My Spiritual Life

Emily Mae Mentock

Artist Brings Beauty to Skid Row

Artist Brings Beauty to Skid Row

Grotto

Free Download: Stations of the Cross Booklet

Free Download: Stations of the Cross Booklet

Grotto

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.