The Mayonnaise Jar

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 your children. Take time to get medical checkups.

Take your partner out to dinner.

Phone a friend.

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."

For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.

"In prayer; expect setbacks, but refuse retreat." Richard Eastman

Do your best, bring out the best in others,

Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is,

Tell the problem how big your Lord is.

* * *

This is so true, how many of us really make time to spend with family & friends?

We tend to be too busy to even make an occasional phone call... A precious elderly lady once called it being so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good... we have forgotten what it is to be in the world... to be emotionally bruised & battered... to be stressed & rejected... When last did we pick up the phone to check in on an old friend... To see if perhaps they needed our love & support?

Even in the church we see people so busy with the things of God, that their marriages & families are falling apart because they are being neglected... Where are our priorities today? What has happened to God 1st, Family 2nd & then ministry? They have truly become so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good... I've seen pastors preaching love, forgiveness & family values off the pulpit & yet they no time for their family, let alone pray for sick family members in hospital.

It's been my experience during the last few months, since my Granny's death, that one cannot even depend on fellow "Christians" in times of need to encourage & help us through our trials & pains because they are so busy that there's no time for compassion for others. Not one phone call of compassion & support from pastors, zone supervisors or even cell members and so called Christian friends... & the same again since my friend passed away due to cancer two weeks ago... What ever happened to the Body of Christ standing together & helping each other? How is the world outside supposed to see & experience the love of Christ if we as fellow Christians are not even able to express that love & support to each other?

My prayer for the world today is that God bring us back to earth... back to realisation of His great commission... & once again fill us with compassion for others, not just the unsaved but also our brothers & sisters in Christ

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ"

Galatians 6:2