A Hole in the Bucket!

He has made everything beautiful in His time. Ecclesiastes 3:11

The other day while attempting to water what’s left of my outdoor potted plants, I realized that not only was I getting wet carrying the watering can back and forth, but also I was arriving at the plants with a small amount of water. Upon further examination, it became clear that there was a big hole in the bucket!

This situation took me back to the “around the circle” song that I remember singing as a child and also using in my kindergarten classes entitled There’s A Hole in the Bucket. This song is a two person scenario where Georgie and Liza attempt to solve the problem of a “hole in the bucket”.

The song begins with Georgie saying, “There’s a hole in the bucket, Dear Liza, Dear Liza, There’s a hole in the bucket, Dear Liza, a hole.” Liza then responds, “Then mend it dear Georgie, dear Georgie; Then mend it dear Georgie, dear Georgie, mend it.”

The song continues in the cycle of questions and answers with Georgie’s question, “With what shall I mend it?” Liza replies, “Some Straw.” Georgie replies, “The straws are too long.” Then, “Cut them,” says Liza. “With what shall I cut them?” asks Georgie. “A knife” is the reply. “The knife is too dull,” continues Georgie. Then, “Sharpen it,” says Liza. “With what shall I sharpen it?” Liza answers “With water” (wet stone). Georgie then inquires, “How shall I fetch it?” Liza’s answer is “With a bucket”. George replies, “There’s a hole in the bucket.” We have made a circle back to the beginning!!

Sometimes life is a bit like this song. We go round in circles trying to fix parts of our life, but one thing seems to lead to another and before we know it, we are back where we started. Each of us carry a bucket through this life that we should use to help us collect all the things we need to get through the day or even through life. We are constantly adding things to our buckets. Most of the time we add good things such as promises, assurances, scripture readings, smiles, memories, and many other things. Other people add to our buckets with sweet thoughts, kind words, or maybe even a card or message that is affirming.

Buckets get filled a lot of times just when we need it most and that is what makes us know that life is worth living and that God can be trusted. People show up and fill up the bucket.

I have noticed, however, that there are those whose buckets never stay filled. No matter how hard they try to fill them, the good things come in and seem to drain right out. It seems there is never enough in their bucket. Others add affirmation, accolades, prayers, and concern, but the bucket just keeps leaking. It’s like there’s a hole in their bucket that is never fixed. Others can help, but they can’t do it without the bucket holder’s help! Just like Georgie, some folks just can’t seem to mend the leak!

How can we mend the leak and keep our buckets full? First, I believe our attitude is important in mending our bucket. Our attitude can be an asset or a detriment in the way we look at ourselves, others, and situations. Keep it positive.

Secondly, confess there’s a hole in the bucket, and something in our life is wrong. It’s easy to look over our own failings, inadequacies, or selfish attitudes. When we confess our shortcomings and ask God to intervene, we start mending the hole.

Finally, repent and say that we don’t want to be repeat the behavior that got us here in the first place. It’s easy to continue our hectic lives and leave our buckets empty of God and His blessings while all the goodness we need continues to leak out. Without adding God we just continue to go around and around and repeat the actions that got us here in the first place.

If we are content to live the same way without an attitude adjustment, a confession, and repentance, then we will find our buckets sprouting new leaks that can never be permanently fixed. Let God help mend the leak!

Everything is as God made it, not as it appears to us. In Matthew Henry’s commentary he says, “We have the world and so much in our hearts, but we are so taken up with our thoughts and cares of worldly things, that we have neither the time nor spirit to see God’s hand in them.”