Church Handout Poem

Woman at the Well

Woman at the well

Oh, the stories you could tell.

Many hardships you have seen,

And yet you sit, serene

Next to the Messiah who has come,

And proclaimed He is The One.

Though He knows your jaded past,

Tells you the way to peace—at last!

How many of us would also partake,

Even though He knows our every mistake?

Would we learn to forgive ourselves and drink,

Eager to live—or, would we be fearful and shrink?

Let us yearn for life, our own stories to tell,

Living our legacy, as women at the well.

Poem by Jenn Stewart

March 8, 2012

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The Rest of the Story

It wasn’t easy living in Wyoming. Besides the winters, there simply weren’t the kind of amenities around you might enjoy in a big city. There was no mall, no Costco. Heck, you almost had no neighbors. You really had to plan ahead; it was just a way of life. If you didn’t, you might end up stuck in a blizzard without a blanket. This meant you also watched out for your neighbors. You took care of each other because there simply was no one else around to do it. This way of life also applied to church.

Our church congregation was small and there was just no way around it—we had to chip in or there would be no church on Sundays. This meant you were often asked to perform multiple tasks that might be given to multiple people in a larger area. One of the tasks I was given in addition to leading the music and preparing the Sunday program was teaching the women of the church. During this time, I became fond of creating small handouts that recapped the main points of the lesson. I wanted to give these wonderful women something to ponder on throughout the week. I also made extras so we could take and share them with our neighbors. I used to hang them up on my own refrigerator door with a magnet throughout the week—or longer if I really liked the message.

I guess I became known for my handouts in addition to my poems. This particular poem/ handout was created because a fellow sister was in charge of an evening program and she asked if I would create a handout for it, a poem, perhaps?! Well, you know me … someone had to do it, so I gave it a go. I remember finding the above photo online and writing the letters “WOMAN AT THE WELL” down the left side of the page. This was one of those poems that practically wrote itself, as the words flowed easily onto the page with little effort. This doesn't always happen, but when it does, it is because an idea truly inspires me.

What inspires you? Do you have a hobby that comes easily to you? How do you share your talents with those around you? I’d love to hear the rest of your story below!