My "back porch" is my kitchen, my favorite room in the house. Come on in, the coffee is fresh, and I just made a pitcher of sweet tea. The cookies will be out in a minute. I have over 40 years of recipes to share with you, along with my opinion on everything. Oh my, you are right, it is cocktail time. What can I get you? Of course I can make you a Mint Julep! Stop by anytime, something is always cooking, and the back door is never locked.

Bon Appetit, Y'all





Saturday, April 24, 2010

The Mayonnaise Jar

I know that today is Saints and Scriptures Sunday and this is not about a Saint and not a direct quote from the Scriptures, but it is certainly a great Christain way to live your life.

You may have already read this, or someone sent it to you in an e-mail and you deleted it, this is your second chance. A friend sent this to me last week and I just loved it and thought you might also. Life really is simple if we just remember 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 starts to fill it with golf balls.

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

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 student 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.

You might want to share this with other "Golf Balls". I just did....

3 comments:

  1. I do love this. No matter how many times I read it I know I'll need to read it again soon. Simple, important concept, but it's hard to keep in mind sometimes!

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  2. Wow. That was very powerful. I will show it to my husband, but I think it will just inspire him to make a tee time... :-)

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  3. I love the part about not putting the sand first. That's what happens so often if we are not careful. Thanks for posting this one!

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