July 22, 2024

"No matter how educated, talented, rich, or cool you believe you are, how you treat people ultimately tells all. Integrity is everything.”

Recently, I was reminded of a children's book I read a while ago that shifted my perspective. The book revolves around buckets, with the fundamental idea being that we become what we fill our buckets with.

We focus on our careers if we fill our buckets with work-related stress. If we fill them with arguments, we become negative and tense. If we fill them with a critical attitude, we become cynical. However, if we fill our buckets with joy, we experience immense happiness.

The book's simple but powerful message is that by filling our buckets with love, we can embody love itself. Our purpose is to walk in love, and people grow and thrive where they are loved. The people with the greatest love, rather than the most information, will influence our lives most. As Bob Goff reminds us, 'Love is caring without an agenda. Once there's an agenda, it's no longer love.'

Intentionally Own It: As you reflect on the theme of this message, what growth do you get to move toward? What makes this matter to you, and what brings you toward it? How can you count on yourself to consistently move in this direction? What value will it bring to your life and others when you do?