A Couple Cups of Coffee

I'm not much for forwards and I've heard a version of this before, but when my mom passed it my way today, not only did it have a different spin than I've heard before, but it also speaks right to the season of life I'm currently in... maybe it will speak to you also. Enjoy.

The Mayonnaise Jar & 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 start 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 it 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 things that matter likes 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 your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.

'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.

So thankful that the Lord blesses me with women to have cups of coffee with along the way. It's so easy within the busy nature of life that we forget to focus on the most important things - our relationship with the Lord, our family, our health, our friends - getting distracted often by the little "fires" in front of us yelling for our attention. I know I surely fall victim to that at times.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one,
       because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down,
       his friend can help him up.
       But pity the man who falls
       and has no one to help him up!

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
       But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,
       two can defend themselves.
       A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.