Wow, did He answer that prayer quickly! Later on, that very day, I was handed a beautiful gift bag with several nice gifts in it: a couple of little tea bags, some cookies, a nice little planner and a handmade bookmark and card. On the front of this pretty gift bag was the scripture 1 Corinthians 15:58. This gift lifted my spirits.

We all want to be appreciated, no matter where we work or what we do in life. Aside from the paycheck that most of us receive, we all want to know that our contribution in life is appreciated. Our buckets need to be filled emotionally.

Recently I read the book How Full Is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Don Clifford. The book is based on the theory that we all have invisible emotional buckets that need to be filled. Our buckets are constantly emptied or filled, depending on what others say or do to us. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it's empty, we feel awful.

Each of us also has an invisible dipper. When we use that dipper to fill other people's buckets—by saying or doing things to increase their positive emotions—we also fill our own bucket. But when we use that dipper to dip from others' buckets—by saying or doing things that decrease their positive emotions—we diminish ourselves.

Like the cup that "runneth over," a full bucket helps us have a positive outlook and renewed energy. Every drop in that bucket makes us stronger and more optimistic. But an empty bucket can poison our outlook, sap our energy and undermine our will. (Of course, with power from God's Spirit, we can be positive even if we receive little encouragement from others.)

The book goes on to talk about why people leave their jobs. The number one reason is they don't feel appreciated. The authors say 65 percent of Americans receive no recognition at all on their jobs! That is astounding and sad.

So we face a choice every moment of every day: We can fill one another's buckets, or we can dip from them. It's an important choice—one that profoundly influences our relationships, productivity, health and happiness.

I thought of this book when I was given the gift bag. The scripture on the bag also reminded me of how much God is a bucket filler too! "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58, New International Version).

We all need to practice filling one another's buckets with appreciation and kindness, no matter where we work or what we do or who we come in contact with. It makes a huge difference for others, as well as for ourselves. UN