The Mayonnaise Jar

I don't usually read chain emails. But when I received this from Jessica, I found it rather interesting. May you be blessed and encouraged as well. =D

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When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day is not enough, Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full... They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes'.

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar,
effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life…

The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions. Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car…

The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

• Play with children.
• Take time to get medical checkups.
• Take loved ones out to dinner.
• Go for a holiday.
• There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

'Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.

'I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'
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Share this with other "Golf Balls" in your life, like I just did.

And by the way if you have time for a Cuppa Coffee, do drop me a line… Cheers!!
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Updates as of 16th April 2009, 10:30am... I took time out to have breakfast with Daryl this morning. It was a good time of catch up, sharing and informal discipleship too. Thanks Daryl for the time together, a joy to spend the time it with you!