When we fill our cups at the Seder or on Shabbat, we have a custom to make sure that the wine overflows. For those who have never seen it done, it seems strange. Who fills a cup over the top? Why make a mess?

I explain to them that it is because when it comes to serving G‑d, we do so with our maximum and then some.

How, you ask, can we do more than our maximum?

Let me share an experience I had this Purim in Uruguay.

On Purim eve, I found out that some Jewish tourists were visiting the resort city of Punta del Diablo, which is about a two-and-a-half hour drive from Punta del Este, where I live. When I reached out, they confirmed that they were interested in hearing the reading of the Megillah, but they didn’t want to inconvenience anyone.

I realized that I would be able to make it there and back between readings I already had scheduled in Punta del Este and José Ignacio, and I decided to go for it. The timing was very tight; I would still need to read the Megillah three more times after returning to Punta del Este at 5:30 pm, making sure to be done before sunset, which was at 7:14 pm.

I headed out with a friend and we made it to Punta del Diablo on time.

On the way back, we had to stop for gas which delayed us by some 15 minutes. We managed to make up the time and would be arriving at our first reading in Punta del Este about 5 minutes late.

I suddenly remembered that there was a Jew living in a town along the way who I was sure didn't have any Purim celebrations planned. I called to ask him how his Purim was going and, indeed, nothing was doing.

I asked him if he would like to join our celebrations in Punta and he readily agreed. He would wait at the side of the highway and I would pick him up. I was very happy to do another mitzvah.

Here’s where things got challenging. I didn't realize that Waze was taking me a different route, that wouldn’t pass the meeting point we had just set up. By the time I realized, going to pick him up would tack an additional 15 minutes onto an already very tight timeline. I might not be able to make it to the three scheduled readings!

I decided to take the chance and pick him up anyway. We made it to the first reading about 20 minutes late. I was able to read the Megillah in record time and make it to the second reading. They were not quite ready when we arrived, and I had to wait about 10 minutes until they were able to get everyone together. I read the Megillah even faster than I had a few minutes earlier, and off I went to the last reading of the day, arriving some 20 minutes before sunset!

I completed the reading just as the sun was setting. Missions 1, 2, and 3 accomplished!

When I set off to José Ignaco and Punta del Diablo, I thought I was doing the maximum possible to help local Jews celebrate Purim. On the way back, G‑d gave me the opportunity to do even more than my calculated maximum.

And as I fill my cup at the Seder this week, I’ll be reminded to stay open to opportunities to keep doing just that—my maximum and then some.