After a lifetime of turmoil, shame, disappointments, depression, bad decisions, rejection,

barrenness and now an empty soul, the Woman at the Well is ready to receive the living

water Jesus offers...but first she must own her imperfections and shortcomings.

*****

Finally, she musters enough courage and says, "Sir, give me this water that I may not thirst

nor come here to draw water."

Aida cannot comprehend the meaning of the stranger's words because she's not thinking

spiritually. Her mindset is of the flesh, hoping to avoid her daily journey of traveling such

a long distance for water in the day's heat.

Then Aida begins to feel the self-imposed barriers releasing her heart, and her spirit feels

calm, serene, and peaceful. Just on the verge of her soul becoming completely free, the

stranger gives a jaw-dropping, gut-wrenching, horrifying command.

He tells her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."

Baffled, perplexed, bewildered, and ashamed all at the same time, Aida feels the chains

tighten their grip around her heart with increased intensity, reclaiming control.

Aida gasps, ruminating over his words, "Husband? Did he say go call my husband?"

*****

In Quench the Thirst, LaJuana R. Sherman invites us to contemplate the life of this remarkable

woman, weaving a tapestry of imagination and faith that offers a fresh perspective on her

encounters with the divine.

The story of the Woman at the Well, as recounted in the Gospel of John, is a powerful

testament to the transformative power of grace and compassion. LaJuana's unique approach

of storytelling, which she aptly dubs "Inspired Creative Christian Fiction," takes us beyond

the mere verses of scripture and into the vivid world she has crafted with care and reverence.

Rev. Bryan Carter

Senior Pastor, Concord Church

Dallas, Texas