As a little girl, I disliked some of the chores I had to do, especially washing the dishes. The only pleasure I found in this task was a secret challenge: to see if I could wring the last drop of water out of the dishcloth. My mother, however, always managed to wring more out of it, for years of practice had made her hands strong.

Whatever our age, life is made up of things we must do. While some people oppose these duties, others focus on the challenge--wringing every drop of purpose and opportunity out of them they can.

Jesus faced such a necessity. On His journey from Judea to Galilee, He needed to go through the hostile territory of Samaria (Jn. 4:4). Although His disciples must have wondered why they had to take that route, Jesus knew it was necessary. While He was there, He reached a Samaritan woman and her village with His message of salvation.

A wise person once remarked, "I have learned much more from the things I had to do than from the things I chose to do." Do you want to be able to say that? Then don't rebel against the things you have to do. Instead, wring from them great lessons of life. But remember, such "wringing skills" need years of practice.  — Joanie Yoder