Devotion May 2018 - LPNI

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Devotion May 2018

FILL MY CUP

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5

In the northern hemisphere the weather is starting to show signs of warmer days ahead. The morning air is fresh as we sit on the patio drinking our cups of coffee taking in the wonders of the day ahead. The grass is green. The May flowers are blooming in such vibrant colors that make the world colorful and alive again after the long winter months have melted away. The air seems so fresh and clean. The sun rays touching and warming ours faces as we finish that first cup of coffee. Up we go to refill our cups and sit back down to take in the rest of this moment.

It is so easy to fill a cup with coffee to get that caffeine kick, but how easy is it to fill your own spiritual cup? Each of us has an invisible cup. It is constantly emptied or filled, depending upon what others say and or do to or for us. When our cup is full we feel great. When our cup is empty we feel awful. Do you recognize the signs of an empty cup? An empty cup can poison our outlook, take away our energy and damage our wills. That is why every time someone dips from our cup it hurts us.

Are you tired, irritated, sharp-tongued, not sleeping, eating improperly, or feeling frustrated with life? You have probably been allowing everyone to dip from your cup and have not taken the time to refill the cup for yourself. When we fill the cups of other people---by saying or doing things to increase their positive emotions, we fill our own cup. But when we use that dipper to dip from the cups of others by saying or doing things that decrease their positive emotions, we diminish ourselves. You must be a good steward of your cup in order to help and give to others from your cup. You cannot give what you do not have.

Many people who have an empty cup may think they can fill their cup by dipping into someone else’s… but that will never work. One of the hardest lessons in life is learning that you cannot rely on another to make you happy. You cannot pour from an empty cup. We must remember to keep a balance in life in all that we do. You must keep yourself on the list of priorities and take care of yourself so you can give from your cup freely. “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14

We face a choice in your lives every single day…we can dip from the cups of others or we can decide to fill one another’s cups. The choice is clearly one that each of us needs to make daily in our own lives. Your choice will immensely influence your relationships, health, productivity and happiness.

My devotion was to fill your cup so that it overflows with the Holy Spirit. May the Lord and Savior give you peace and joy as we trust in him to keep the water flowing into our hearts and souls daily so we may fill up those empty cups.

Linette Feltes, BSN, RN

Parish Nurse

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Rochelle, IL USA