Dear Customers and Friends,
Earlier this year, my grandson Baylor came home from kindergarten with a note from his teacher. It was a good one.
“Baylor is a bucket filler for sure!!” the note read.
Please excuse bragging on my grandson, but I believe there is a very important lesson here for all of us in this approaching season of Thanksgiving.
In their book How Full is Your Bucket?, authors Tom Rath and Don Clifton theorize that we all have emotional buckets that require filling. Depending on how you feel, your bucket could be empty or full.
Feeling lonely, sad or hurt? Then, your bucket is probably empty. On the other hand, a full bucket means your “cup runneth over” with happiness.
Taking the metaphor even further, we are all equipped with dippers to go along with our buckets. When we use these dippers to fill other people’s buckets with good deeds and nice words, then our own bucket is replenished. We feel renewed and more optimistic.
Jesus encouraged us to be a bucket-filler when he said, “Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.” (Luke 10:27)
On the other hand, if we act hateful toward our neighbor, then we are figuratively stealing from that person’s own bucket and hurting them. But whether you realize it or not, your negative actions diminish the contents of your bucket, too.
At the dinner table this Thanksgiving, let’s not focus only on our blessings. Spill your bucket and let the blessings flow to your family and all those around you, spreading love and gratitude – which will replenish your own bucket at the same time.
That’s what Baylor does, and he makes me – and everyone around him – feel happy. And for me, I’m one very proud “Papa.”
Blessed to be a Blessing,
Greg Syfan
President, Syfan Logistics
“For out of His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace.” John 1:16