Being a parent of kids entering their teenage years, I’ve noticed that some things get easier as they grow older, or at least we think so.

When kids are little, they crave independence, and with that comes the need for patience. For example, they want to hold their own cups. That could mean milk, water, or juice, it doesn’t matter. What matters is their desire to do it on their own. As parents, it’s natural to say, “Be careful, don’t spill.” And inevitably, they do spill at some point. They’re kids, it happens. Time and time again, we clean up after them and teach them how to be careful until eventually, they grow out of it.

A few weeks ago, we took our kids to a Nebraska football game, and one of our twins wanted a pop. So, we went all the way down from the nosebleed seats to grab one. As we made our way back up and were about to enter the stadium section to our seats, she was holding two big pops (with no lids) and shaking, trying not to spill. I looked at her and said, “Focus on me and don’t look around when we walk into the stadium.” As we progressed, she locked in, and when we arrived at our seats, she had only spilled a little on her hands, not bad considering how far we had to walk.

As I reflect on that moment, it reminds me to allow our cups of life to spill onto others. Sounds odd, I know, but it’s also a reminder from Psalm 23:5:

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

And from Romans 15:13:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

There are so many people walking around running on fumes or feeling empty, looking for something. On the flip side, there are others filled with joy and eager to give it away. As C.S. Lewis said, “Joy is not complete until it is shared.”

That means being the first to smile when you see someone. Holding the door for a stranger. Looking someone in the eye when you’re talking and showing genuine interest instead of waiting to share your own thoughts. It’s also sending a note, email, or text to someone who’s been on your heart.

Max Lucado sums it up well:

“We cannot keep the blessings of God to ourselves; the cup He fills is meant to spill.”