OT: THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND COFFEE

[Guest guest]

Proud Air Force Mom!

May God guide and protect our troops!

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

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 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 God, family, your children, your health, your

friends, and your 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, 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. Play

with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner

out to dinner. Play another 18. 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 i 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. "

Please share this with someone you care about. I JUST DID.