The creature is incapable of knowing anything except what God gives to it from day to day. If it knew beforehand what God intends for it, it would never be at peace. ~Catherine of Genoa
I wake up thirsty. My spirit, dry and gasping claws the air, croaking barely-formed thoughts of love-lack and dread. I dress in the burden of the day ahead and the unfinished tasks of yesterday. The day begins with a glass half-empty.
I often wish to be re-made, to be the one who leaps from the covers, throws open the blinds and bellows a greeting to a startled world. When the glass is half-full, only positive possibilities hang at attention, ready to be donned with chin up, straight back buoyancy.
Instead, I mutter to the kitchen, pour a steaming mug and take a breath. If I listen, if I allow myself the life-giving pause, I hear these words,
“The Glass is Full…
Every morning your glass is filled to the brim. When problems clamor it is not because I was stingy. When others prosper, they were not given more than you. Every day your glass is full.
Full of what?
- Enough love, with no supplement needed.
- Enough power, so you can come to me weak.
- Enough forgiveness so you can fearlessly face your darkness.
- Enough joy so happiness need not be the goal.
But you turn from my love for the sake of human acceptance, you deplete yourself trying to prove you are me, you spin your delusions to avoid seeing the truth, you search the world over for what I’ve already poured.
My child, all the grace, wisdom and provision you need, is already there. The glass is always full. But it comes one overflowing cupful at a time–enough for each day–so you will learn to drink from me.”
So I sit with my coffee, one hand on my dog’s warm back. I close my eyes and let my glass be filled.
Do you see the glass as full? Is God really enough?
Photograph of Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC by Ted Martinson
5 replies on “The Glass Is Full”
Thank you for the challenge…I woke up this morning “half full” even after all of the answered prayers of yesterday. My Pastor once said that stress and worry are the belief that God isn’t going to show up. I diminish God’s power in my mind so that I believe that even if He does show up, he will have the same limitations of power and wisdom that I do. I would love to wake up each morning in the knowledge that His mercies are new every morning, and that His faithfulness will reveal far more than I can even imagine. Maybe that is the lesson He wants me to learn through all of this!
And me too, Deb. I am so grateful for you.
Hi Janet,
You write so beautifully. In our human state we so often see and feel things as you first described.
Then I love how you said that we should be full of…
Enough love, with no supplement needed.
Enough power, so you can come to me weak.
Enough forgiveness so you can fearlessly face your darkness.
Enough joy so happiness need not be the goal.
Thank you.
Great perspective…thanks.
Thoughtful words. Thank you Janet.