Laying it down to fill it up

Relationships of every caliber take work because humans are a piece of work.  So when we talk about what kind of well we are to others it really shouldn't shock us when we have to look at OURSELVES.
See, I have a whole mob of kids.

The great thing about kids-they are really honest with you. The bad thing about kids-they are REALLY honest with you. 

When momma is in a foul mood it is reflected in the cranky cries of my cubs. Ugh. I once heard this illustrated by comparing a mom to the thermostat of a home. Whatever mom's temperature is set at, everyone else in the house will feel and reflect it. Better said, "When momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy". That is true in my home as well. I have to keep my well in check! Does that mean I always do? No. I get sidetracked by the chaos and I grumble and I complain. I go full Israelite! Thankfully, God is merciful and He calls me out on it. He recently has done just that which is where this whole series began. What I found, was that my kids were coming to me and finding my well was bitter like Marah in Exodus 15, rather than finding Jesus like in John 4. Talk about a punch to the gut. If I want to raise little disciples, I have to feed little disciples.
Then I looked around and realized this bleeds into my adult relationships as well. Unless you thrive on drama, who wants to be around someone who always has something negative to say? A spot o vinegar to quench your thirst, deary? Does complaining hurt your relationships with others? You bet it does! When we talk about defining "enough" it's real easy to find our limits when we are in the presence of a complainer. We may not know how much we need in alone time, but we know how much we can tolerate in negative time! That's how we ruin relationships and turn others away from God.

WE BECOME A STUMBLING BLOCK! 

Yikes!
So what do we do to fix it? Throw our hands in the air and give up? Pray and hope that God does all the work?  I found that not only is our attitude part of the problem, but our unwillingness (eh em laziness) to actually fix it is a HUGE part of the problem. When I was reading John 13:38 where Jesus asks Peter if he was willing to lay down his life, Peter was so very willing to jump up and say "Yes!", but what was he not willing to do? He wasn't willing to use his words and use his heart. I think we fit with Peter. We are so sure we would "lay down our life" in the physical sense, but what about laying down the life that we are living out right now? What about saying "I will give up the habits and attitudes I live with right now regardless of how hard it is to live as God has called me to live in order to honor Him in all I say and do"? Can you do actually do that? Can you lay THAT down and still keep living the next day and the next day and the next? The hardest thing in the world sometimes is to just say "I'm done"; to be done with hurtful habits that are so ingrained it requires all your efforts and energy to not even think about doing them. I know, I've been there. It takes great faith when it gets dark to not fear what might be out there and instead to simply trust the pillar of fire that is leading you through it. I know, I've been there. But I will tell you, THAT is where you find that HE is not just enough, but HE is ALL you need.
Having a well that overflows with the mercy, grace, and love of Jesus Christ is about emptying yourself of you, laying it all down at the cross. Those on the outside look and say "wait, but now you're empty!" But those who see Jesus KNOW and say "Now you'll never thirst again!"
Momma, are you empty? Are you weary? Have you just been running that race you never intended to start with a finish line you can't find? Then stop. Just stop where you are. Your knees are the perfect place to meet your Father. Lay it out. Don't wait until later, don't let it go another minute. It's time to change the temperature and drain the bitterness from your well. If you need extra prayer, send me a message because I would LOVE to pray with you and for you.