As many of you know, my parents are building a house right now. They’re in the final stages of construction — and yesterday, a concrete crew came out to pour the driveway and sidewalks. It’s really looking like a place you could call home now. 🏡

Our house is located just across the street from my parents’ future home, so as I was looking out my living room window last night, I noticed my dad out in his front yard. It was after dark, so I couldn’t quite see anything except that he was holding his flashlight and a garden hose. I assumed he was watering the plants in the big pots next to his fence.

I thought, it’s kind of weird to be THAT dedicated to your plants, but…whatever 🤷‍♀️😂.

Well, then this morning as I was coming home from dropping the boys off at school, I saw him out there once more. He was watering again, but this time I had to do a double take when I noticed exactly WHAT it was that he was watering.

Turns out, it wasn’t the plants…or the grass.

It was the driveway.

🤦‍♀️ I immediately thought, someone call the doctor — Dad’s for sure gone crazy this time…

But then it dawned on me…wait, didn’t my hubby say something about this when we first had our driveway poured last year??

He used to work in construction and even owned his own concrete business for while, and I think I remember him saying that if you keep the concrete wet for the first few weeks after it’s poured, it will “set” better and become stronger….less prone to cracking down the road (no pun intended).

But the whole concept still sounded a little “out there” to me, so I even did a google search to double check…and sure enough, even Bob Villa himself concurs. According to Villa, “everything you do after pouring has just as much impact on its strength as the mixing process. In fact, the chemical reaction between cement and water that binds sand and gravel together to make concrete takes nearly 28 days to fully complete. During this process, which is known as hydration, you want to keep moisture in the concrete. Otherwise, water evaporating too quickly from the surface—which can happen easily outdoors and in direct sun—will weaken the finished product with stresses and cracking.”

Ok, so I guess my dad’s not crazy after all (sorry for judging you, Dad). 😂

Afterward, I realized that the whole reason I THOUGHT he was crazy was because I didn’t KNOW the reason he was doing what he was doing — I didn’t have the same knowledge he had.

Aha, lightbulb moment. 💡

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The way I live my life as a follower of Jesus probably looks a lot like “watering the concrete” to the people around me who aren’t Christians.

The Bible even says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (I Corinthians 1:18)

Living for Jesus doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to people who don’t know Jesus Christ — a lot like watering the concrete wouldn’t make sense to the average person who is just driving around in your neighborhood. Most of them would just be like me and think, “Shouldn’t that guy be watering the grass???”

But watering the grass is a lot like the way people who don’t know Jesus are living life — they are living for the here and now. They want things they can gain, enjoy, and achieve in a tangible way that can be experienced here in this life.

Living that way makes a lot more sense on the surface — after all, you can literally tangibly see the results. If you water the grass, it will grow. Mission accomplished.

But because Christians have read and learned the teachings in the Bible, this knowledge gives us a different perspective on life. We believe that there’s something more important to water than grass, even if the benefits can’t be immediately ascertained with the naked eye.

And for that reason, it may even appear that while those who are living outside of Christ are growing and thriving and blooming in their lives, we as Christians are just over here looking all hard and drab and gray like a big slab of wet concrete. 🤷‍♀️

But I can’t think of any better slab to be associated with than Jesus Christ — He is our firm foundation (I Corinthians 3:11, Matthew 7:24-27).

Unlike the grass, that foundation will remain forever “…for ‘All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.’ And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” (I Peter 1:24-25)

The things we’re doing to water that foundation is only making our faith stronger.

So, today I need to remember…

• While others are having “Sunday Funday,” but I’m at worship…I’m watering the concrete.
• While others are lying and cheating to get ahead in life, but I’m honestly and diligently paying my dues…I’m watering the concrete.
• When others seek revenge, but I choose to turn the other cheek…I’m watering the concrete.
• When others give up on their vows, but I remain faithful…I’m watering the concrete.
• When others gossip and tear each other down, but I use my words to build up and encourage…I’m watering the concrete.
• When others drink and carouse, but I remain sober…I’m watering the concrete.
• When others willingly give in to temptation , but I put up a fight against it…I’m watering the concrete.
• When others spread hate, but I show love…I’m watering the concrete.
• When others tell lies, but I speak truth (even when it’s not popular)…I’m watering the concrete.
• When I read my Bible daily…I’m watering the concrete.
• When I talk to the Lord God in prayer…I’m watering the concrete.
• When I teach others about the gospel of Jesus…I’m watering the concrete.

The list could go on and on…decisions that we make as followers of Christ, all might seem foolish to the world, but grab your hose and water on. You know the truth, you know why you’re doing it, you know what the scriptures say.

And maybe one day someone will come up to you and ask, “I wonder why your driveway doesn’t have as many cracks as the rest of the neighborhood? What’s your secret?” And then, just like the scriptures say, you can be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within you…and hopefully help someone else point their hose in the right direction, too.

But you can’t start watering the concrete until you’ve made Jesus your firm foundation.

His words are our living water — and there’s plenty flowing for you and for me. Take advantage of that today by reading the Bible.

If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, then become a Christian and make Jesus Christ the firm foundation of your life by being baptized today.

Until next time…

-PWAP