Filling My Cup

Recently, I just felt as if there was a constant drain on my time and energy.  So much so, I was starting to sink into a pool of self-pity. The daily requirements of keeping a household, yardwork, church duties, grandchildren, helping care for an elderly mother, was taking its toll on me.  We have all been in this exact same spot many times over the course of our lives. Different sets of circumstances but the same spot none the less.  My problem is and has always been a feeling of guilt when I do something for myself. I had never heard the words “self-care”, or taking time for yourself until I was in my mid-forties. 

I looked at my husband one evening and told him my cup was empty.  That was truly how low and run down I felt. As I was thinking on this, it hit me that I had done nothing to refill my own cup.  Why did I think someone or something else was supposed to fill it back up for me?  At that moment I realized that I was the one at fault.  I had slipped in the amount of time I was spending with God.  I wasn’t getting into god’s word.  I wasn’t praying as often as I needed.  I wasn’t doing simple things for others.  I wasn’t even taking time to do any of the things I loved to do, like crafting, antiquing, gardening, or just sitting and meditating. 

Psalm 16:5 says, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.”   Psalm 23:5 reminded me that, (God) He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”  I’m sure you recognize the previous passage from the 23rd Psalm.  I surely needed that reminder.  My cup is empty because I’m not holding it up.  In other words, I’m not doing my part.  It’s being filled.  I’m just not holding up my side of the cup.  Worried I’m overlooking all of the blessings that are flowing right on by.

We should caution ourselves to not let life cause our cups to turn over.  Don’t forget to cleanup, dress up and show up for God.  He’s already pouring out what you need into the cup.  Are you holding the cup?  Are you partaking in the contents?  There is no sin in slowing down to savor the aroma of the contents of your metaphorical cup. 

There are many ways to refill your cup.  You just have to hold it up first.  Do the things that God has gifted you to do.  Pray for your family, friends, the lost, your state and nation, your church.  Do something unexpected or out of the ordinary to show kindness.  Read a book that you have been putting off. Complete a task that has been left undone.  It gives a sense of accomplishment.  You can just sit and admire God’s handiwork.  All of these things will help you to refill the cup that you thought was empty. 

May you see your cup overflowing:https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/ns/340