So many times we hear "You can't pour from an empty cup."
While that is true, there's another idea that we are missing out on. What happens when our cup isn't "empty", but it's not full either? Sometimes, we are so focused on taking care of ourselves, we don't see that taking care of others can fill our cup too.
First, what does it mean to pour from an empty cup? With an empty cup, you have a million things to do, not enough time in the day. You're struggling, and you can't seem to catch a break. When you give away every ounce of your time and energy and you don't have enough for yourself, that's when you're pouring from an empty cup. Don't get used to running on empty. It's so easy to go through life and do everything for everybody, always saying yes, and maintaining an illusion that you're okay. Then, when you finally have that empty cup, you see how detrimental that was.
The kicker of an empty cup, is that it doesn't stay empty forever. This will only be a period of time whether it be a few days or a few weeks where you're seriously struggling. After times of strife, comes time of relief, and your cup will begin to fill once more. When this happens to you, recognize it. Recognize that you are beginning to return to normal, and allow yourself to pour out to others once again.
The Bible says in Proverbs 3:27- "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when the power is in your hand to help them." This verse is powerful to our cause in many ways. First, focus on the last part. "When the power is in your hand to help them." This means, when your cup is empty, stop pouring! Only when it's in your power, in your will, then you should fulfill this portion of giving. Second, recognize when people are in serious need of kindness. Recognize those to whom it is due. See the struggle in others, and allow the power in your hands to lift them up.
Focusing on yourself when your cup is empty is not selfish.
It is something you need to do to regain your sea legs and become normal. But, when your cup is filling, start to give to others. Allow yourself to outpour to their lives, because there will always be somebody else in the world that is in a worse position than you. When you are blessed with stability, begin to fill a little of that back to somebody else and you will only notice your cup to fill once more.
