The Empty Cup

Do you ever feel like you've been poured out? That you have nothing left to give, and still the world comes needing more. But it's more than you have to give? Do you feel empty somedays? You just need something, but you aren't quite sure what it is...

It's a gorgeous day today, the sun is out, a blue jay is singing a sweet song from the pear tree. Spring seems to have crept up on us. A robin answers the jay from further in the orchard its orange breast startling against the drab colors of the branches. 

A few trees up the plums have burst into a dazzling display of white blooms. At the back of the yard, I can just see the blushing peach tree blooms dancing in the soft breeze against a baby blue sky. Charlotte brushes against my leg, she's been scrounging under the smoker again despite the dozen times I've scolded her. 

My to-do list is long - a self-imposed quota to meet "good enough"- and nagging, but for now, I'm sitting on the deck listening to "outside" sounds and feeling the wind on my skin after so many cold winter days. 

The neighbors aren't home yet, so, for now, it is just me. It's one of my favorite places. I like to escape here early in the morning before anyone is up and watch the sun come up, or after dark when the stars come out and stare up at the sky and just listen. 

Life is hard, people change, friends become strangers as life tugs you in different directions. Not everyone was meant to stay in your life- and I've learned that I'm not meant to stay in some peoples lives. 

Dreams are lost among the stars, and new ones take their place. I find myself here, needing to be refilled. Needing to soak Him back up. 

The Lord is near to all who call on him, Psalm 145:18 NIV

Here I find myself need to be refilled, and here I find myself drenched in His love and mercy.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5 NIV

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. Psalm 81:10 NIV

It's ok to step back, to regroup, to find a quiet place and plug back into Him. To take a moment to breathe and refill your cup before charging back out into the hustle and bustle of life to fill others empty cups. Somedays we need someone else to fill ours, and that's ok. That's what we are here for, but don't stay on the sidelines. We were never meant to be just an empty cup on a shelf. Refill, and get moving. Life is far to short to do anything else.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™