We’ve all heard the saying that you can’t pour from an empty cup or bucket. We are taught over and over that we have to keep filling up our own in order to be able to give to others.  Spiritually, I agree that if we are depleted, we need Christ to refill us in order to be able to share his love.  But in today’s time, that concept is often smothered in ‘keep refilling, hurry, hurry, fill up, refuel, go, go, go.’  More pressure in this already too pressured world.  

But there’s something about empty…  Imagine a recipe calling for one cup of water.  You reach for the measuring cup and it already has a 1/4 cup of milk in it.  There’s not room for a full cup of water so we can either mix the water in with the milk to get a full cup (yuck) or we can empty it and make room for what we need.  We need that cup empty in order to be filled with what we need.  

I just believe there is a gift that comes with our bucket becoming empty, and most importantly, in letting it sit for a while.  I believe that when we do on those rare occasions, without the guilt, but with rest and peace, it is in that quiet emptiness that God is able to gently pour into us all of His goodness and grace.  

To the brim.  
Every time.  
Because we simply
have room for it all.

She felt so tired and empty
but was afraid of being still,
the world having taught her
that emptiness had to be filled.

She tried to figure out
every day when she would wake
what to fill her day with,
her to do list she would make.

This time in the stillness, though,
she heard a quiet voice,
and it whispered,
“Sit empty for a while, my child,
I am offering you another choice.

Be quiet and be still, 
don’t try to fill yourself up,
I can’t fill you with my goodness and grace,
when you hand me a half-filled cup.

Just remain and rest for now, 
take a breath and let it all out,
and I will gently fill you to the brim,
for that is what living fully
is gloriously,
wonderfully,
beautifully,
and truly
all about.

Written 02.04.24