Be A Fountain, Not A Drain
Be a fountain, not a drain.
We have reached the point in our family where the movies I enjoy watching, Mazy does as well. Ever since I saw “The Forge” in the theaters with my Mom, I knew it was a movie I’d be watching over and over again.
With the sun going down oh so much earlier, I find ourselves settling down at night earlier, which means we have a few minutes to watch a movie before bedtime. Not always, but if we have the time, I want it to be worth it.
It took a little convincing to get Mazy on board to watch “The Forge”, but now she’s completely hooked. Each time there is a signature “life lesson” in the movie, I try to make a comment to hopefully help her think a bit more deeply about what it’s saying and then apply it to our own lives. I think she might be thinking too deeply (which is good!) because she couldn’t fall asleep last night after watching it because she was thinking about it :). Oops!
One of the quotes that has always stuck with me is: Be a fountain, not a drain. In other words, be a giver, not a taker. This concept can be transferred over into every area of life – sports, workplace, friendships, marriage, church environment, you name it. Are we people who offer encouragement, hope in the hard times, grace, gratitude instead of complaining, and live to serve others and not self?
Or are we people who are self-focused, looking to get ahead, not worrying about who or what stands in our way, is negative, always looking for the next thing, and sucks the life out of the people around you?
When people encounter YOU, how do they walk away feeling? Filled or drained?
This is a constant challenge to myself. It’s easy to let the problems of the world and in our own lives, rule our actions and reactions. It’s easy to see the cup half empty, but requires a mind shift to see the cup half full.
When you picture your life, what is overflowing from it? Are you giving more than you are choosing to receive? When you picture a drain, what are you taking from those around you? From the life God has given you? Instead, what can we daily choose to give back to God out of gratitude for the blessings He has given us?
Walk today with this: Be a fountain, not a drain.
And go watch “The Forge” – I promise, you will not regret it! And if you do watch it, let me know what you think!
