RUNNING ON EMPTY

Have you ever felt the need to step back and recharge, or take a moment to remind yourself why you're pushing so hard to achieve your goals?

So did the main character in this story, which was an 8 year old boy. The world came to a pause one day when he found his tank was running on empty.

I saw this story and my heart felt it so I wanted to share with you.

The boys were already seated at their desks, ready for the school day, and I was about to leave for work when I noticed my youngest standing in the bathroom, wiping his face. I paused at the door and asked if he was okay. He looked up, tears silently streaming down his face, and shook his head. When I asked if something had happened, he shook his head again.

So, I sat on the edge of the tub and pulled him onto my lap. I told him that sometimes our hearts feel empty and need to be refilled. He cried into my chest, and I held him close.

I asked if he could feel my love filling him up. He nodded, and the tears began to slow.

I waited for a moment.

“Has it reached your toes yet?” I asked.

He shook his head no.

“Alright, buddy. We’ll take as long as you need. Work doesn't matter right now. School isn't important either. This, right here, is the most important thing today, okay? Filling you back up to the top. Is that good?”

He nods.

Another minute passes.

“Is your heart full of Mama's love now?”

“Yeah…”

I looked into his eyes and saw the brightness return. He was full to the top, and he was smiling.

Friends, whether you’re 8, 28, 38, 48, or older, we all run on empty at times, just like he did. His weekend had been so busy and full that his little soul had run dry!

Have you felt that way before and sometimes more often than not? I know I have and I sometimes wonder, can it be refilled? The answer is a definite YES!! We all have our own beliefs and methods of trying to recharge and FILL OUR TANK, but I can’t think of a better way than to fill it with LOVE!!

Take a moment to reach out to those you deeply care about and let them know how much you love them - IT ALWAYS COMES BACK. It brings a smile to our faces to brighten someones day, then guess what???, our tank just got a little less empty.

No one loved or loves us more than our Father in Heaven and His Son, so focus on His love by scripture, prayer, worship, praises, laughter, friends, hugs. For it all comes from Him.

If you don’t refill your emptiness/tank then you will find those emotions—tears, anger, sharp words—overflowing for no apparent reason.

Take a moment to refill your tank and in turn you might help fill someone else’s.

2 Thessalonians 3:5

May the Lord fill your hearts with God’s love. May Christ give you the strength to go on.