The Two Buckets

StoryParable★★★★

In his book rbur Attitude: Key to Success, John Maxwell says, Our attitude determines our approach to life. The story of the two buckets underlies this truth. One bucket · was an optin-tist, and the other was a pessimist. “There has never been a life as disappointing as mine,” said the empty bucket as it approached the well. “I never cothe away fron-1 the well full, but what I return empty again.” “There has never been such a happy life as mine,” said the full bucket as it left the well. “I never come to the well empty, but what I go away again fall.”2 1 Parables, lttc., January 1985, 6. 2 John Maxwell, Your Attitude: Key to Success (San Bernardino, CA: Here’s Life Publishers, 1984), 22.

— John Maxwell

John Maxwell.

The point

Two buckets at a well view their situation differently—one laments returning empty, the other rejoices leaving full—illustrating that attitude determines our approach to life.

Scripture

Proverbs 23:7Philippians 2:5Romans 12:2Philippians 4:8

Audience

AdultsYouthChildrenSmall Group

Tone

Uplifting · Hopeful · Convicting

To tell aloud

under a minute · 113 words

Subjects

Perspective Optimism Pessimism Contentment Attitude

Community

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