I received this from a friend and thought I
would pass it along as "food for thought."
Once upon a time it was discovered that
everyone has a bucket. No kidding. It's a
bucket which is kind of like a cup -- in that
it can be filled . . . even to overflowing. I
guess it's sort of like a source of peace,
comfort, love, strength, and such. And the
fuller it is, the easier it is to share what's in
the bucket with others.
There are a lot of wonderful ways in which
we can put things in each others' buckets.
For example, we can say, "Good Morning!"
when we see each other. That's a great way
to put something in someone else's bucket.
And, you can double the contribution by
adding someone's name -- "Good Morning,
Mrs. Smith!" Other things which can fill up a
bucket are hugs, listening, sincere praise,
pointing out strengths, being sensitive to
needs (and doing something about them
when you can), cheerfulness, honesty,
patience (almost sounds like a description of
THE PURE LOVE OF CHRIST: CHARITY,
when you think about it). Anyway, one of the
things we all ought to spend time doing, is
helping to fill others' buckets.
Now. . . it must needs be, so they say, that
there is opposition in all things. And so, just as
we all have a bucket, we all have a dipper.
And sometimes, other people can get their
dipper in your bucket!! It's been known to
happen!
Just imagine that we're going out to eat with
some friends at a nice restaurant. There'll be
fine linens and candles and everything. We're
sitting at the table, visiting and I accidentally
knock over my glass of V-8 juice. Big red spot.
I am so embarrassed. I am turning redder
than usual. But, the juice just keeps crawling
across the table right toward our hostess. It's
like a flood! It won't stop! And, then finally it
does dribble on her! She jumps a little, but is
being nice even though it's wet and gooey.
And then, old bright eyes, down the table a
little, looks up and says, "You spilled your
juice." He got HIS dipper in MY bucket!
Tell me how old you have to be to know . . .
you made a mistake!? . . .that you're not
perfect!?
Can you remember sitting down to breakfast
with your family and your little brother spilled
his milk? And about 35 people (it seemed)
said "You spilled your milk!" All those great
big dippers in such a tiny little bucket!
Have you ever noticed that when your bucket
is low, or empty -- when you need most to
have someone put something in it -- THAT is
when you're most irritable to people? We
chase people away when we need them
most. We try hard to figure out WHY we run
around with our dippers out. We're busy
trying to get our dippers in other people's
buckets -- and they don't want their bucket
to have our dipper in it!
This is where the trap is. Have you ever
noticed that when you get your dipper in
somebody's bucket . . . you're pointing out
something wrong with them? You tell them
they've got wrinkles in their socks . . . and
they don't have them on yet? You tell her
she's moody and then you find out she's
got a toothache. You tell someone there's a
spot on their face and then find out that your
glasses are dirty. You've got YOUR dipper in
someone else's bucket! It might feel good,
sort of, when you first shove your dipper into
someone else's bucket -- but after a while it
doesn't feel good anymore.
Do you know what a DIP-IN is? It's not exactly
like a drive-in or a sit-in . . . It's when several
people get together and just DIP someone
good! Next time you realize that's happening,
point it out and then stop. "Hey, we've all got
our dippers in little sister's bucket! Let's fill it
instead of emptying it!"
Sometimes you say to yourself, "Self, she's
got a LID on her bucket!" Or you may ask, "Hey,
does anyone know where I can buy a lid for my
bucket? There are a lot of DIPS around this
place! Some of you may even think you don't
HAVE a bucket! Or you may feel that your
bucket's been shot full of holes.
Well, for SURE we're just not the same when
our bucket is empty, and that's all there is to
it. And, we're not the same when we're
dipping instead of filling, and that's all there is
to that, too! My friends, keep your dippers out
of other's buckets. FILL their buckets . . .
you'll discover yours is getting fuller too. Full
and overflowing -- you'll have so much, much
more to share. It really could be that way. It
really CAN be that way. Love one another . . .
enrich and lift and bless and fill one another."
....Author Unknown
