…Dear Liza. Dear Liza.
Y'all know that silly song, right? I can clearly remember watching a kids' TV show when I was young and, ridiculous as this sounds, I remember feeling hopeless. For the bucket. For Liza. For Henry. For everyone involved.
Not hopeless to the point of tears, but I just never found that song entertaining. I've never been one to laugh at situations where I felt that no matter what I did, I would lose.
Here's how the story in the song goes…
There's a hole in the bucket. To fix the hole in the bucket, you need straw. But the straw is too long and you need to cut it. But the axe isn't sharp enough, so you need a stone. To whet the stone, you need water.
And you guessed it. To get water you need the bucket.
[By the way, how exactly is straw going to fix a hole in the bucket?]
I hate the times when I treat situations in my life like the bucket.
When the most important thing is the hole. When everything revolves around the hole.
When I, just like Henry, want to complain. And I, just like Henry, think everything would be fine if I could just plug the hole in my bucket.
Have you ever said something like this: "I just wish ONE thing would go right. If just ONE thing would change, then the REST of my life would be great."
If the straw was the right length, then…..
If the axe was sharp, then….
I sing this song all the time, I just make up new verses.
If I was married, then….
If my kids would behave, then…..
If I could have a baby, then…..
If I had more money, more time, more friends, more freedom, then……
If there wasn't a hole in my bucket in the FIRST place……
There has to be a better way. I get frustrated, and a bit hopeless, when all I can think about is that ONE THING that would change everything. Because it isn't true.
Just like Eve in the garden, I'm easily convinced that the ONE THING I'm missing out on is the ONE THING that would make my life so.much.better.
Let's take our focus of the holes in our buckets. And instead, ask God how to use the bucket for His glory. Maybe the hole is the best thing that has happened to you. Sure makes it easier to pour out on others.
I wish Henry finished the song by singing about how he was going to be okay, how it's no big deal to have a hole in the bucket, and how he's really just plain grateful to have a bucket in the first place.
And I wish someone would explain to me how straw can patch a hole.
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Great insight..and so helpful to me today. I tend to be the kind that focuses on that ONE thing. Good challenge to me personally today. Thanks.
I love this thought. I was just reading in Paul Tripp’s ‘Broken Down House’ how we always externalize our problems. But, that the true problem is our own sin. I want to meditate on this truth this week.
Love this, Annie. I need to stop focusing on that one thing (something in particular I’m struggling with) and put my focus on God. Thanks.
I loved this, thanks so much for sharing it with us! xoxo, Melissa in Mel’s World
Funny! I was just singing this song in my head the other day, and wondering if anyone else remembered it because it’s from way back. I’ve always wondered the same thing – how DOES straw fix a hole? Seriously, I’ve actually spent many minutes of my life pondering this. Silly, I know.
I was taught ‘stick’ not straw…not that that makes anymore sense…lol Loved this today! Thank you!
Perhaps, Annie, we were supposed to learn how ridiculous his man was. How he wasn’t thinking straight himself. Sometimes we get on a cow path that says straw will fill our hole, or the perfect cup of tea during our perfectly worded prayer in our quiet time, but like Henry, we will forever fall short. Straw wasn’t meant to fix a hole, in a bucket or in our soul. Glad we have a Savior who is the perfect patch!
Learned that song in the 2nd grade but evidently our teacher changed it because I’m pretty sure Henry and Liza ended up with a fixed bucket. Interesting.
Anyway, you’re exactly right. I focus on that ONE thing that seems to make my life ‘incomplete’. In the past it’s been by state of being single and 26. And just when I think I’ve beat it, that I’ve got my bucket fixed and realized that I’m only complete in Christ, someone gets engaged or announces they’re pregnant and the hole in the bucket is bigger than it was to begin with.
To end this monstrosity of a comment on a happy note, God HAS used that ‘hole’ in my bucket for His glory and I’m so glad He chooses to.
Thanks for this Annie!! Just what I needed on a Monday morning! 🙂
Thanks, I was getting stuck in my “hole” and this was exactly what I needed to read this morning!!
Thanks! Now, we have no more excuses. 🙂 God fills the holes in our buckets. I love it!!!
Wow, this answers a prayer I offered up last night! Thank you Annie. I needed to read this today. I truly hear God’s voice speaking through your words. God Bless~
Thank you so much Dear Annie, Dear Annie, Dear Annie.
Thank you so much Dear Annie, Dear Annie, Thank you! 😀
(Hope you can hear that put to music and that it actually puts a smile on your face.)
I’ve been quite fixated on a hole for months now. Every time it looks like a straw is available to plug it, I find out the straw’s too long, ax is too dull, or the bucket springs and additional leak! My whole world is revolving around the patching of this hole and it keeps me up at night, makes it hard to breath, makes me grumpy toward my loved ones.
I’ve always been drawn to the “One Thing” passages of Scripture. I’ve even jotted notes towards writing a book on the subject. But until reading your post, I somehow managed to avoid realizing that I was replacing the One Thing most important in life with the one thing I’m so fixated upon.
I know myself well enough to know God’s going to have to do a lot to help me pry my reluctant fingers loose of my bucket and let Him have full control over the leak. But at least now that I see it with fresh eyes, we can work together toward the goal of putting my priorities back in order. It is going to be a painful process, but in the end it will be much more peaceful than trying to patch this up myself.
“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Psalm 27:4
“…but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12-14
I LOVE THIS! So perfect for me today! Thank you for sharing!
VERY nice!!! So well written! I love the way ALL of the contributors put our daily thoughts into words of inspiration and (in)couragement!! Thank you..thank you…thank you…
Thank you. I needed this right now more than you can know.
Annie,
Thank you for this. It has been such an encouragement to me today.
Christen
I love this. It’s convicting and encouraging at the same time. I’ve played this game with God for a long time.
The Israelites used straw to make brick. Perhaps it was a brick or pottery bucket…
Thanks for this post. Very well written!
Annie, I love how you make me think and laugh all at the same time! Awesome post.
I needed this reminder that focusing on God is far better than the “hole in my bucket”, and when I do focus on Him, things seem to gain the right perspective. I am convinced that our “holes” can indeed be used to give Him glory, for they help us rely on Him and grow in our faith.
I just might have to think of this song at times when I start whining instead of keeping my focus on God!
Annie,
Thanks for the reminder of not to focus on that “one thing”.
ps I now have that song stuck in my head, which is a little sad.
we are after all–earthen vessels. I think I probably have some drastic holes, a couple of cracks, and most likely misshapen.
I spend to much time being worried about my misshapen self and my cracks and holes, with out even realizing that that was what I was created to be!
And sometimes the holes are really really hard. And hard to get through. But I’m learning that when we let Him do what He needs to in us, those holes add a whole new beautiful element to ourselves.–albeit they are still painful holes
Love the analogy. Although I had never, ever heard of that song before! And I’m much older than you…I had to youtube it. 🙂 Thanks for the lesson today…I needed it.
“Let’s take our focus of the holes in our buckets. And instead, ask God how to use the bucket for His glory. Maybe the hole is the best thing that has happened to you.” Well, Annie, that’s just some really good stuff right there! Thank you.
p.s. That song always seemed so hopeless to me too… but I think it was because it was so hopelessly l-o-n-g. 😉
If you enjoy this song, you definitely have to check out this book! The pictures are amazing and it is just so cute! https://www.createspace.com/3449667
Set your life more easy get the loan and all you need.