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It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. the crops were dying - the cows had stopped giving milk. The creeks and streams were long gone back into the earth. It was a dry season that would bankrupt several farmers before it was over.
Every day, my husband and his brothers would go about the arduous process of trying to get water to the fields. lately this process had involved taking a truck to the local water rendering plant and filling it up with water. But severe rationing had cut everyone off. If we didn't see some rain soon...we would lose everything. It was on this day that I learned a true lesson of sharing and witnessed the only miracle I have seen with my own eyes. I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my 6 year old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He wasn't walking with the usual carefree abandon of a youth but with a serious purpose. I could only see his back. He was obviously walking with a great effort..trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house, I went back to making sandwiches; thinking that whatever task he had been doing was completed. Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful stride toward the woods. This went on for several trips so finally I couldn't take it any longer and I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey. He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked, being very careful not to spill the water he held in them..maybe two or three tablespoons at the most was in his tiny hands. I sneaked close as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much higher purpose. As I leaned in I saw the most amazing site. Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck with elaborate antlers was dangerously close, but the buck did not threaten him..didn't even move as Billy knelt down. There I saw a tiny fawn lying on the ground; obviously suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap up the water cupped in my beautifull boy's hand. When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house. I followed him to a spigot to which we had shut off the water. Billy opened it all the way and a small trickle began to creep out.Then it became clear to me, as he had gotten into trouble playing with the hose the week before.
As he stood up and turned around to face me, his little eyes just filled with tears. I'm not wasting was all he said. As he began to walk I joined him with a small pot of water from the kitchen. I let him tend to the fawn, I stayed away - it was his job. As tears rolled down my face there were more drops and more drops - I looked up and the heavens was opening up with rain as if God, himself, was weeping with pride.
Billy was taken from me - much to soon but not before showing me the true face of God, in a little sunburned body.
Author - unknown
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