Thirsty

” I am thirsty daddy”, this request was a predictable part of the bed

time routine with my oldest daughter. On some nights it was probably a

bit of a “stall tactic” but not one that I really minded.

What Father does not want his thirsty daughter to drink and be

satisfied? Little thirsty girls become older girls and then young

women. Their thirst will grow with them. They are designed and

intended to navigate these developing thirsts over the course of their

lives. Thirst is not the enemy; it’s the mechanism that draws them

into deeper truth and genuine satisfaction.

Young girls are designed to thirst for a real identity, a real source

of comfort, a real source of contribution that reflects their unique

hearts, gifts and calling. They are designed to thirst for a True Love

and for a relationship that is animated and defined by that love.

These are good thirst. They will pulled, prodded and drawn by these

thirst toward that which truly satisfies.

This will be uncomfortable for them and for us as their fathers. It is

also necessary, important and good that they make this journey.

In his classic work, the Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis describes

this tension in a scene from The Silver Chair. Jill has been

unexpectedly  swept into this  new Landscape and is left to navigate

her deep thirst, the cool clear stream and the Mighty Lion, Aslan.

“Are you not thirsty?” said the lion.

“I’m dying of thirst,” said Jill.

“Then drink,” said the Lion.

“May I, could I, would you mind going away while I do?” said Jill.

The lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at it’s motionless bulk,

she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.

The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.

“ Will you promise not to—do anything to me, if I do come?” said Jill.

“I make no promises” said the Lion.

Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.

“Do you eat little girls?” she said.

“ I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms,” said the lion.

It didn’t say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.

“I dare not come and drink,” said Jill.

“Then you will die of thirst,” said the Lion.

“Oh dear!” said Jill, coming a step nearer. “ I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.”

“There is no other stream,” said the Lion.

Our daughters will outgrow their Sippy Cups and Night Lights. They

will come to a place in their journey where they must get to the Real

Source of Life. They will need Living Water to satisfy their deep

thirst. They will need to find their courage, they will need to risk

and trust the one who invites them to “Come and to drink”. There is no

other stream for them or for us.

Grace & Peace

Dr. Don Worcester

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