Lose the Dipper

The Bucket & Dipper Parable
By Mary Ellen Edmunds

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 – that’s even better. Other things which can fill up a bucket are hugs, listening, sincere praise, pointing out strengths, being appreciative, 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. Yup. 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 – nice table cloth and all – first class. Silverware is nice, place is lovely, I’ve just had a bath and I’m feeling good. I am 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 I’m usually red. But the juice just keeps crawling across the table right toward my friend…it’s like a flood…it won’t stop…and then finally it does it - - - it dribbles on her! She jumps a little, but is being nice even though it’s wet and gooey. Then my husband (or wife), old “bright eyes” down the table a little, looks up and says, “You spilt 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 yet perfect. Can you ever 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 that little tiny 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 your spouse he’s got wrinkles in his socks…and he hasn’t got ‘em on yet. You tell your friend she’s moody and you find out she’s got a tooth ache or got a sad letter. You tell someone there’s a spot on their face and find out 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’s bucket, but after awhile, 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 get together and just dip someone good! Next time you realize that’s happening, point it out…STOP IT! “Hey, we’ve all got our dippers in this friend’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 these days. Some may even think they 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 dipper out of others’ 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.