That moment when....you realize The Lord made our hearts like buckets....

Blog inspired by some of my most favorite BFF's Mike and Leslie Vullo and this awesome book.

A few weeks ago I had a dear sweet friend tell me of a book her husband picked up and thought I would enjoy reading it to the boys. It's called Have You Filled a Bucket Today? She let us borrow it and I fell in love. Building champions in this game of life has become a passion of ours. In every area, any age. To encourage character and integrity. I know this is a huge job. I do not claim to have it mastered but I take it seriously and work really hard to live in a way I am leading. This book makes me think of those things. Not only teaching them to our children but living a bucket filled life myself.

First and foremost you must know that everyone has an invisible bucket and just because we don't see each other carrying it around doesn't mean its not there. I believe the bucket resembles a lot of our heart. These are the things that can fill it up or totally dump it entirely. Now onto what is inside the bucket. 

There are two types of people we encounter. Bucket fillers and bucket dippers. I think the names are pretty self explanatory. The book doesn't refer to this but I also think there is third and that's someone who could care less about adding or taking away any value, which I suppose could be a dipper. Sad, but true and we probably know more than we would like to admit. So here is my take on buckets and I think it could be a life changing lesson to grasp.


So everybody has a bucket....Either we are filling buckets or ours are being filled by friends and then..... there is the dipping. People who I suppose, live to dip out every ounce of greatness. 

All day long, we are either filling up

                                                       or dipping into each other's buckets

 by what we say and do.  

I have never understood the need, the desire, the fulfillment to be a bucket dipper. Why? Its much like bullying. Bullying has become a huge topic in our society. The awareness that its here and the cry out for prevention is at its all time high. I remember when I was in school it was brushed off as something you were meant to brush off and overcome on our own. Meanwhile there are people walking around my age struggling with the effects of their past bucket dippers. So this is my take...If we are making a stand it must first start at home with mama and daddy. I, in no way, have a right to read this book to my boys encouraging them to be bucket fillers if I am at home dipping everyone else's buckets inside my four walls. I love watching children and how they respond to life. I've listened to my own and have cringed when I have heard them say or do things with my same attitude about life some days. You can bet at some point in time whether at home or away your kids will call you out. So if its not something you would want repeated....better keep your bucket full.


For the bucket fillers. Man...I have so many in my life. I bet you do to. When they walk in a room...Into your presence that very moment increases in value. It feels safe...enjoyable.. and not much work besides being your best you. They are positive, uplifting. They celebrate what you celebrate. They even may mourn when you need to. I posted earlier this week on Facebook that 85% of the people in your life would love to see you fail...Those would be dippers and the 15% would be these friends. Who become your biggest cheerleaders. Who celebrate YOU!!

Now for the ones who could care less. I think these are the most dangerous. Living with nothing more than going through the motions. With no purpose. Little depth to relationships and wanting everyone they know to join them. They usually have no interest in any ones bucket being full or empty and chances are they didn't even know there was a bucket.

So what I want to share is how to keep yours full! How to fill others so that people in your life want full buckets and pay it forward. Just be one! When you are....It fills your own. Have you ever walked away from adding value to someones life saying to yourself...Man I want to do that again! Its awesome!! It takes work. Looking out for others always does. Its noticing they are there. Being in tune to them hurting. Maybe they have a great need? Its simple acts of kindness. Maybe a note to tell them how much they are valued. Sometimes the simple gesture of a smile. Willy challenged some friends and I to try it this week. Just catch someones eye he says and smile.....It may change the course of their day. Other things to remember when keeping your bucket full is surround yourself with BFF's. BUCKET FILLING FRIENDS. They are vital. And if you cant think of any friends in your own life...Find some new ones.


DON'T DIP!!! No matter how good it may make you feel for the moment. Remind yourself. of what that moment makes you become. Its the 85%. Who are viewed as not only selfish but jealous. Its viewed as bullying.  Weak....I cant imagine being OK with any of those adjectives for a description of myself yet we all are guilty of dipping at one point or another. I say its worth working hard to protect your lid.



Use your lid. The lid protects your bucket and never be afraid to use it. There may even be a period of time where it needs to stay on depending the circumstances. I remember us encouraging our oldest through this concept and something profound Willy said. He said.... Nothing has any value, meaning no one has the right or ability to dip unless you allow it. if whats being said is not true leave your lid on! don't let someone come into your life speaking opinions that hold no value or truth dip your bucket. Use your lid for others. Help other people protect their buckets. You may be the only one to prevent the dipping. And you may be the only one keeping the good inside and allowing nothing less to hop into the bucket. We could all use friends like these.


So just in case you didn't know WE ALL walk around with these invisible buckets....doesn't it make sense? I know I mentioned before these buckets are much like our hearts. I have a strong desire to protect my own but that's not good enough. I want to yearn to protect the hearts and buckets of others. Don't you??

A couple of weeks ago I went to my car and found this bucket. It was filled with all sorts of goodies and a card. I have to say I think this was better than flowers! It was a total surprise and very humbling to think of myself as a BFF (Bucket Filling Friend).







I pray that I always am working at filling buckets...and more importantly that my boys see that in me too. They are watching...and I think we could all agree we would love to have children who live to fill the buckets of others. So lets start with showing them how.