“We earn trust in drops but lose trust in buckets.”
I’ve heard this wisdom shared by my Pastor numerous times as he’s described the precious value of trust. Pause for a moment and imagine how long it would take to fill a bucket one drop of water at a time. Hours? Days? Weeks? I suppose it would depend on the size of the bucket! However, losing the water in the bucket would take just a split second regardless of the bucket’s size. Very sobering.
As Administrative and Executive Assistants, we are entrusted with an enormous bucket. At first, the trust in our bucket was loaned to us. Others vouched for our integrity with their references when we applied for the position and we were vetted by an interview process. All of that trust was based on someone else’s good word about us. Then we began to slowly add to the bucket by personally demonstrating that we are trustworthy. Step by step, day by day, task by task, action by action and conversation by conversation we added one drop of trust at a time to our bucket. It doesn’t take long to realize how precious trust is, once we realize how long it takes to earn it!
Think about someone you’ve known for a long time. Are they trustworthy? Have they walked for years with wisdom and are they known for their honor? What have they done over the years that has helped bring them success in this arena? How have they kept their trust buckets full? When I think of these people in my life, I realize that I’ve seen them:
- Recognize its value. Foolishness highjacks trust; it takes wisdom to earn trust.
“She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.” Proverbs 3:15 - Stay humble. Pride is a slippery slope.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10 - Be self-aware. We must stay alert to our own thoughts, words, and actions.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 - Be kind. We are all human and need grace.
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2
Interestingly, it is the trustworthy who are the first to say that they’ve made mistakes. A trustworthy person is not perfect. Instead they are quick to repent and seek forgiveness. Even when they are right, they work for reconciliation of relationships that have gone sideways. Because, after all, trust comes through relationship. I also see trustworthy people acting quickly to offer grace to others who have tripped and spilled their own buckets. Through their own trials and errors, they have learned that grace and kindness are not evidences of condoning foolishness, but they are the reflection of love that we have been given by our Father. These gifts are intended to be given away – liberally. While it will take time for someone to begin the trust-earning process again, we can make it a smoother process by being kind, showing grace, and praying for their restoration. After all, as daughters of the Most High, we recognize how generous our Father has been to forgive our own shortcomings and this motivates us to be quick to reflect the very love that redeemed us. It is a beautiful way to remind our own hearts, and the hearts of those around us, that …
You are adored.
You Are Adored 