Jack and Jill

The old nursery rhyme about Jack and Jill has many versions. This is the one I grew up with.

Both children set off with good intentions, but misfortune strikes. Jack thinks only of himself, abandoning pail, water and Jill to solve his own problems. Jill’s amused by Jack’s predicament, and a disciplinary mother punishes her, convinced that Jill is to blame.

I’m not sure what lessons young children should learn! Coping with disappointment? Gender stereotypes? Family discipline?

I met with my own Jack and Jill yesterday. Each, earlier in their lives, had climbed their hill purposefully, optimistically, hopefully. Each had a pail that they wanted to fill with life- giving, refreshing water…

I visited Jack. He was lying on his hillside, pail upturned, bruised and feeling that he had neither the strength to get back home to heal, nor the will to refill his pail.

Later I chatted to Jill. She was still bruised and knew that there were wounds that still needed to heal, but she was on her feet again and was returning to her well with fresh resolve and hope.

Musing on my Jack and Jill…

…Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ is a typically complicated comedy of love, scheming and misunderstandings. Benedick and Beatrice love for each other seems doomed…

Towards the final resolution Benedick says to Beatrice: ‘Serve God, love me and mend.’    

It’s in the service of God – the greater good – and the love of others that we mend, pick ourselves up and regain the strength to climb our hill.

…Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote:  ‘…For your dreams be tossed and blown. Walk on! Walk on! With hope in your heart And you’ll never walk alone.’

The original dream of the full pail of water carried home safely on a fine summer’s day ended in disaster. Jack… Jill… I… may be battered and bruised from falling, but must get up, rediscover hope, walk on with those we love, with our God, and give our story a different ending.