All You Ever Need

Imagine a land so dry that every drop of rain is like pure gold. And in the middle of this arid land there is a village filled with people who need more than just a few buckets of rainwater to survive. Fortunately for them, Tobias lives nearby. He owns the only wellspring in the desert, and it pours forth clear, cool water—water he and his son happily give to everyone who asks. He is lovingly called the Watermaster, and he believes that the water should be a free gift to all.

But when the Watermaster goes on an unexpected journey, the people realize in a whole new way the amazing gift he's been giving them. The only gift they really need.

God's grace is a gift more precious than water in a desert. It is all you and your children ever need. As our bodies cannot live without water, so our souls cannot truly live without God's grace. It is by His grace alone that we can come to Him and ask for the Living Water, which is eternal life. His grace poured out at Calvary cleanses our hearts and souls. So marvelous and matchless is this gift—a gift we do not deserve, a gift we cannot buy or earn—yet we need only ask and believe.

This poignant tale, first told in the popular Crossway book Tell Me the Secrets, and its rich illustrations uniquely capture the wonder of God's amazing grace. Let it help you share this vital truth with your children, that they may know the real Watermaster and receive His Living Water.

Max Lucado is a best-selling inspirational author and speaker, and a minister of preaching at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. His award-winning books have been translated into more than 41 languages and have occupied spots on every major national bestseller list. Over the years, Lucado has been featured in countless national media outlets, dubbed “America’s Pastor” by Reader’s Digest and Christianity Today, and even named one of the most influential leaders in social media by the New York Times. His books include You Are Special, If Only I Had a Green Nose, and The Boy and the Ocean.

DOUGLAS KLAUBA is a graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago. He also studied at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco. His illustrations have been commissioned for book covers, magazines, calendars, and posters. 

Karen Hill is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of several children’s books, including My Faith Journal. Karen and her husband, Art, have three children and three grandchildren.