STORY: “THE WELL OF LOVE”

STORY: “THE WELL OF LOVE”

In a small village on the outskirts of Kisangani, Congo, there stood an old well. Generations had drawn water from it — mothers for cooking, fathers for farming, and children for laughter. But what made this well different was not its water, but the stories shared around it. It was said that love, true love in Christ, was first born there.

1. THE MEETING

A young woman named Amina came to the well every morning. She was known for her kindness — always helping widows, singing hymns while she worked. Her faith was quiet but deep. One day, as she drew water, a young man named Jonas, a local carpenter, stopped by. He had recently returned from the city, his hands rough from work, his heart bruised from disappointment.

When Amina greeted him with a smile and said, “God is good, even in dry seasons,” Jonas paused. He had not heard hope spoken like that in years.

2. THE STRUGGLE

Weeks passed, and they often met at the well. Their friendship grew through shared faith — praying for rain, serving the poor, repairing an old widow’s roof together. But rumors spread quickly in the village. Some said Jonas was too poor. Others said Amina should marry a man from a wealthier family.

One evening, Amina sat under the mango tree, praying aloud, “Lord, teach me to love as You love — without pride, without fear.” Jonas, hidden nearby, heard her. Tears filled his eyes. That night, he decided to surrender his doubts to Christ and trust God’s timing.

3. THE TEST

Months later, the village faced drought. The crops failed, and the well began to dry. Fear spread — but Amina and Jonas gathered the villagers to pray. Every evening, they sang worship songs in Lingala and Swahili: “Yesu, Moyi wa Bolingo — Jesus, the Light of Love.”

They shared the little food they had, teaching that love in Christ was not about feelings, but about giving, forgiving, and standing together.

4. THE MIRACLE

Then one morning, rain fell — soft at first, then heavy. The villagers danced, laughing, singing, “Tata na biso azali malamu!” (“Our Father is good!”). The well overflowed again, and life returned to the fields.

Jonas and Amina stood hand in hand, not just in love with each other, but in love with God’s faithfulness. Their union later became a symbol in the village — that when love is rooted in Christ, it can overcome poverty, gossip, and drought alike.

MORAL REFLECTION

Love in Christ, in the African heart, is not just romantic — it’s communal. It feeds the hungry, restores dignity, and dances even in storms. It’s the kind of love that builds wells, both of water and of grace.