Food for thought....

[katie pertiet]

I'm not one for sending emails like this but I got this from my sister tonight and I loved the message and thought I'd share:
-------
The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

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

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front
of him. When the class began, he wordlessly 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 a 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---your family, your lover, your children, your health,
your friends and your favorite passions---and 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, your house and
your 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

'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend
time with your spouse, your children, and your parents. Visit with
grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to
dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house, do
the laundry, 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 and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'

The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

--------
good things to think about!

[Scrapbird]

Great message in a fun story.
Glad you shared it!!

[justmp]

That is really good...thanks for sharing.

[B-Jo]

Great story, wonderful message! I'm glad you shared!

[Kayleigh]

That is a great message indeed - thanks for sharing it with us Katie

[DebbieHodge]

ok . . now that I've got a metaphor for it all maybe I can do a better job of getting the golf balls in first.

[lwarren]

that is a good one!

[thyme4me]

Thanks for sharing. It's a great message.

[deanie]

Really fabulous message! Thanks for sharing with us, Katie!

[Artemia]

what a great message. thanks for sharing Katie.. how true this is..

[beehive50]

Awesome, Katie!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[shellb]

Oh katie...I so needed that today. Thank you.

[digigrandma]

Excellent message! TFS, Katie!

I need to call up a couple of friends and schedule time for coffee!

[readstoomuch]

Thanks Katie!!!

My Aunt Velma was given this in Sunday School a couple of years ago ... and, I copied it down and lost it. Now, thanks to you I have this delightful piece of wisdom once again. I love it and enjoyed reading it again.

[Olisa]

I love this story and decided that I need to fill my all-too-short 24 hour day with more golf balls instead of pebbles and sand. Thank you for sharing, Katie!

[Kathie]

Actually have seen this done...it really hits you. Makes an awesome visual lesson for teenagers as well. TFS.

[omyjallopy]

wow, thanks for sharing! great message!