Why did you spill your hot chocolate? This question is a result of a little scenario I heard a couple months ago. It went something like this:

A woman was holding a cup of hot chocolate when someone bumped into her, spilling the drink. A friend asked, “Why did you spill your hot chocolate?” She responded that it was because someone had bumped into her. “No,” replied her friend, “It is because that is what was in your cup.”

Clarifying, her friend continued, “If you had juice in your cup, you would have spilled juice. If you had milk in your cup, you would have spilled milk. You spilled hot chocolate because that is what was in your cup.”

This is the question that follows – when life bumps into you, what do you spill? What is it that you are carrying around in your cup?

I know, I know – life is never so simple that only one or two “things” are in us to spill when bumped… but I immediately thought of two for myself. When my life gets bumped into, I find myself in a state of reflection as well as a search for positivity and cheer. Writing out my experiences is what has made this clear to me and these particular traits I attribute to my loving parents.

Several times my father has told me that I somehow inherited the best of both of my parents. From him I inherited the trait of serious thinking, study and reflection. What a bummer that I didn’t inherit his uncanny ability to recall everything that he has ever learned. (I can read the same book over and over and be surprised every time.) This used to be so frustrating to me until I accepted it and found peace knowing that even if I cannot recall and share my information – it has changed me and become a part of me.

From my mother I inherited the trait of a cheerful heart and positive attitude. She loves everyone and in this way I become more like her as I grow up. What a bummer that I didn’t inherit her ability to talk to everyone and become friends with strangers wherever she goes. I was cursed with a deep shyness that held me back for many years. This was also frustrating to me and continues to plague me, but I have worked to overcome and give more of myself to others. (For example, I type out my feelings on this blog for anyone and everyone to read – though I am able to hit the “publish” button only after giving myself a little pep talk each time.)

So I have thought of these things for a couple months and my thoughts have not changed. Just this morning I was pondering – what spills out of my sweet husband when he is bumped? I immediately came up with two answers. Sense of duty (probably from his dad) and stubborn independence (probably from his mom). These were both new thoughts to me but I think they are accurate.

Of course as soon as we had a quiet moment I told him the hot chocolate scenario and asked what he thought spilled over when bumped? What’s in the cup? Like me, he had an immediate response. “We are filled with faith in Jesus Christ.”

Ok – first of all – I love that he said “we” and not “I.” We have been married for almost 35 years and we have learned to come together in a crisis. We face the world together.

I guess we cannot spill what we have not filled. Through both nature and nurture we do inherit traits from our parents – but what remains in our cup are those things which we choose to develop and cultivate. Throughout our lives we have so many experiences – we choose our reactions and what we will leave behind and what we will carry forward. I feel that we are responsible for what is in our cups, and therefore we are responsible for what we spill.

All four of our parents have live faith-filled lives in their own unique way. Mark and I have made the choice to develop and cultivate faith as individuals and as a couple. This is the source of our courage and the source of our strength.

Later – I had to come back and insert this paragraph and say that I feel gratitude spilling out of me also. This wasn’t natural for me, rather it was first desired and then cultivated and then nourished. Sometimes it spills and sometimes I search for it – but I can always find it. Gratitude gives me power.

It is never too late to fill your cup with faith. I heard today that God gives His love freely. It is real and tangible and available to every one of us who desires to experience it. It is never too late!