This morning as I began to make coffee I wasn’t surprised to see the carafe full of wet, used grains. As I dumped it in the trash I chuckled silently to myself. I then poured over half a pot of cold coffee down the sink.
This is one of the many areas where my husband and I differ. When I’m making coffee just for me, I’ll only make enough for what I’m going to drink. When my husband makes coffee for himself he makes a full pot. He does this even though he will only drink one cup. It’s his way of doing things and he knows no other way.
Funny thing is that it doesn’t really bother me anymore. It used to irk me a bit, to the point that I almost brought it up in conversation to him. I’m grateful that before I did I had the consciousness of thought to consider that it wasn’t really that important. When you decide you want to spend a lifetime with another person you have to consider what’s worth arguing about and what’s just considered silly, pointless nagging.
Once I adopted that mindset about the wasted coffee it didn’t bother me at all anymore. In fact, as I dumped the excess java this early morn I smiled at the task. It reminded me of my husband’s character. He approaches life like he approaches making coffee. He always makes a full pot! He never does it half-way, or approaches circumstances with the idea of only giving into it what he absolutely has to give to get a minimal result.
When he decides to love someone, he does it fully. When he works, he gives it his all. When he’s your friend, you can guarantee you have all the commitment and support he has available to give. Even when something is difficult or unfulfilling to him, if he commits to it, he’s all in.
He makes a full pot every time.
He wasn’t always this way I can tell you. It’s been my pleasure as a proud wife to watch God change his life before my very eyes. He inspires me, as I know God also uses me to inspire him in other areas. That’s marriage.
But this morning as I smiled over spent coffee I considered the lesson at hand, the word God was trying to impart so early in the day. I thought about it, about approaching life in this manner.
Do I always make a full pot in life? Or do I just do the bare minimum to satisfy my own needs? What about you?
What if everyone just did the bare minimum?
What if the surgeon only performed half of your needed surgery?
What if the nurse only gave you half of the medications you needed?
What if the bus driver only took you half of the needed route?
What if the teacher only taught your child half of the lesson? Would he still be tested on the full curriculum? Likely so, don’t you think?
I remember a time in my life where I was only giving The Lord half of me. I loved Him as much as ever but there were certain areas of my life I just didn’t feel like I could relinquish control of to anyone.
I remember a time in my relationship with my spouse where we only gave each other half of the trust, truth, and deification required to make a partnership function. We got by okay, but it wasn’t near what it could be.
That’s the thing though. You get back what you put in. If you give 50%, then you’ll receive that much back. If you give your husband just a portion of what he deserves in your marriage, then the return on the relationship will be half of what it could be. You won’t experience the fullness.
It’s the same in your walk with God. Give Him control of only some of your life, then be prepared to receive half the blessing. If you want to experience all that God can do then you have to first put in 100%. You have to make a full pot.
You can use this full pot theory in all aspects of your life. You don’t like work? Consider that this is where God has placed you for now. He has you there for a reason. Don’t perform just enough to get by. Give it your all. When He sees how you handle a little with gusto, He will bless you with a lot. When you can excel where you are, He can move you forward.
What about your children? If you only give them half of your love, attention, support, and discipline then don’t be surprised when they respond half-heartedly to you. Don’t be surprised when they don’t reach their full potential. You have to invest in them, and not just 10%. Kids aren’t the stock market or an IRA. With relationships you must give in what you expect to get out.
The next time you’re doing something in your day-to-day life I want you to think about coffee. Because maybe, just maybe we all need to start making a full pot.
KathyFuller says
I loved this. It’s such a great analogy. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you for reading and commenting! God bless you.
Rose H. RN says
Thank you! I often try to give my very best in taking care of my ICU patients! My tired and aching body of working over 12 hr. shift can only so do much!
But your story inspires me….
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you! I know exactly what you mean! In the past I’ve dreaded getting up and going to work some days, but it’s a bit easier when I look at it like this. Thanks for commenting.
Jenney Moss says
I needed this!!! Miss you on fb but I’ll see ya there Saturday! 🙂
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Sounds good. I’ve missed you too girlie. You missed one of my posts going viral. Been pretty cool to watch. Ha.
carolyn says
Loved this one! It’s always good to be reminded about how much we are putting towards our life, faith, relationships! Great story!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you 🙂