A COUPLE CUPS OF COFFEE
By Dr. Hoyt W. Allen, Jr.
The following
article came to me
recently and I
contended that I
should pass it on.
It has been slightly
edited and a
conclusion added.
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,
your 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 holes of
golf. There will
always be time to
clean the house and
fix the disposal."
Take care of the golf
balls first -- the
things that really
do count. Set your
priorities. The rest
is just sand."
(Continued)
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."
When times get
rough, there is
nothing like a good
friend. But in order
for us to have a
friend in time of
need - we must seek
to develop
friendships, even
when we do not
conscientiously need
one.
When a fire breaks
out, a hurricane
strikes, a flood
fills our living
room, or an
ambulance pulls into
our driveway, these
are times when we
feel the need for a
friend, and they are
welcomed.
Often I have heard
people refer to
their neighbors as
being almost their
enemy. I have made
the suggestion that
they invite them in
for a cup of coffee,
dish of ice cream,
piece of pie, a
slice of pizza, etc.
This has happened
and their almost
enemy has turned
into being a great
friend. Thus,
someone needs to
make the first move.
Would you consider
doing this?
Jesus
said, “Greater love
has no one than
this, that one lay
down his life for
his friends. You are
my friends if you do
what I command”.
(John 15:13,14)
Everyone needs many
friends. God did not
create us to be
isolationists or
hermits. He made us
to be social
creatures. We will
never be all that we
can be until we
develop friendships.
Plainly, don’t
get short changed.
Let’s be ready to
meet our Maker. The
Bible (in Acts)
teaches that to
avoid hell and gain
heaven - one must:
1) Believe In Jesus
As Savior (16:31) 2)
Repent Of Sins
(17:30)
3) Confess Christ
Audibly (8:37) 4) Be
Baptized In Water
(2:38)
5) Live A Christian
Life (14:22) 6) Be
Active In the Church
(2:47)
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