When things in our lives seem almost too much to handle When 24 hours in a day are not enough, we remember the Mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.
A Teacher stood before his class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, 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 Teacher 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.
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 Teacher 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 Teacher as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents our lives.
The golf balls are the important things — our Lord, our Spouse, our Children, our Family, and our Friends –and if everything else was lost and only they remained, our lives would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like our Ministries, our health, our job, our house, our car and our favourite passions. The sand is everything else — things that can wait.
If we 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 we spend all our time and energy on the things that can wait, we will never have room for the things that are important.”So we need to pay attention to the things that are important…
We take time to smell the roses by acknowledging our Creator and by allowing Him to balance the contents of the jar..
We take time to share with our Spouse and our Children, listening to them, encouraging and supporting them. We show our faith by Loving and Caring for our family, friends and others.
We take care of the golf balls first, and then the pebbles–the things that really matter. We seek to have a balance to set our priorities. The rest is just sand.
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented…The Teacher 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 cup of coffee with a friend…We will always find time for the things that are important to us.
Please note this Story has been adapted quiet a few times by differant people, the Author is not recorded on any of them so is unknown but what is known is that God is our Creator who Loves us and He must come first in our hearts and lives if we are to have His Love, Hope, Joy, Peace and Rest Eternally . John 3:16-18
Freedomborn 
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I enjoyed that made me smile as always, maybe I could meet you halfway for a coffee today give our eyes a rest and see if the jar is half full. Sydney 12.00 reckon we can make it
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No Barb….Queensland 12.00 that way you can come back and do some ironing for me after our cuppa, yep the basket is full, did you know ironing relaxes the pupil… I just made that up but it sounds good so are you studying anything 🙄
See you soon , Annie’s lost it again!
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My iron has cob webs around it my eyes wont let me iron now days. Can you guess Ironing is a dirty word. A good shake and a fold and its a job well done
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Hummmm … Barb it seems you need to read a very helpful message on house cleaning see link below.
Keep it clean – https://freedomborn.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/my-philosophy-of-housecleaning/
Annie, Always Cleans Up 🙄
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This is such a timely reminder amidst our fast-paced lives. I know I’ve been guilty of focusing too much on things that will only perish, things that don’t truly add to a fulfilling life in Christ! I’m definitely more aware of keeping my ”golf balls” and ”pebbles” as the priority they should always be!
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Hi Patricia, I love your honesty and yes I’m sure we could all say the same, today I have great passion for God but once it was all about me for sure and because it was this way, I missed out on so much of what was really important.
Thanks for sharing, perhaps one day we will have that coffee.
Christian Love Anne.
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🙂
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Hi ROJoson, it seems you have found another version of this message, there are quiet a few, no doubt people share what their focus is. Having been an unbeliever and a Christian for about the same period of time, both for approx 30 years, except for a few years, as a Child when Jesus was my best friend but I was deceived later, I know what message has the most value and unless God is first in our life the rest is pointless and will be blown away like dust or chaff.
Don’t forget the cuppa with a friend, ROJoson, they may share some good advise with you, or would you like a cuppa with us, I will leave a link in case you do …. Blog Post – https://freedomborn.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/a-cup-of-coffee/
Christian Love from both of us.
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That is such a true story. Even though we sometimes think the jar is full with the golf balls we can always add more. We just have to be careful that we don’t put so much in, there’s not room for the coffee. That’s what I was discovering….my job as a principal, my passion as a Bible teacher, my talents as a musician, were crowding out what was most important…my God and my family. So I prayed hard for the answer and it was…retire, spend more time with Me and the ones who really matter. Now I have time for my God and serving Him as a Bible teacher, my family and getting to know my new brother and sister, and using my talents as a musician for His glory. When we listen and follow through HE gets the job done. Your Spirit Sister–Marie
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Hi Marie, yes I agree we need to keep our focus on The Lord first, He then keeps the balance we need. Thank you for sharing and for joining up with me some time ago, perhaps it was when you read this message or did you just find it, either way like you I found it very helpful and yes indeed a cuppa with a friend is important, thank you for taking the time to have one with me and for being a caring Sister in The Lord.
Christian Love Anne.
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Annie, I really needed this today. I am behind on my blog reading because of other people’s needs. I was tending to get cranky and snarky because, by the time I was done taking care of others I was too tired and in too much pain to do anything but whine and complain. What I am finding in all these past bogs is that I needed to hear them TODAY! Praise God for using all my blogging family to show me what He wanted me to learn in His time!
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Hi Drusilla, are you reading my portfolio, how true we do need to take time to rest but when there is Kingdom work to do, God will strengthen us and see us through, that we don’t have to ever doubt.
I Love your honesty Drusilla, some would say… oh I’m just fine very happy in The Lord, now we may indeed have the Joy of The Lord in our heart but that does not mean we won’t have a tear in our eye at times … Jesus wept, it’s not about always being Happy Clappy it’s about knowing that all things work together for good because we Love The Lord and by our obedience we will show we do.. God has called us by name so we don’t have to play the worlds games.
Thanks for not wearing a mask Drusilla, I Love and respect you in The Lord – Anne.
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Such an important message, Reminds us to always put family and friends first. Thank you for sharing my dear sweet sister…Absolutely enjoyed my cuppa this evening. Robin
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Hi my dear friend Robin, well you don’t have to worry about your importance to me, I rush to share a cuppa with you, it’s a priority every time I receive an update from your Blog, thank you for the extra cream it makes the coffee even richer although it always does have plenty of full bodied flavour.
I haven’t forgotten the other Story on forgiveness I promised you, perhaps later today or tomorrow, it certainly brings the message home.
Take Care in Jesus and stand tall – Christian Love Anne.
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Great and inspiring words of wisdom, Anne. Thanks and God bless.
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Thank you mtsweat, I appreciate that you enjoy the Stories I post, over the years I have collected many of them having run Christen groups for woman to uplift and encourage each other in our lives. I have also wrote some stories or adjusted them when needed but sometimes there is one that really has had an impact on me or came at the right time and this is one that spoke to my heart, how busy I sometimes get and others are pushed aside not deliberately but they still are.
Thank you for taking the time to show you care, I’m sure many appreciate your kindness.
Christian Love Anne
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I always liked this story shows you will always find the time to do the right thing ,like putting people first , good graphics
ron
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Hi Ron, yes so True, life can race by but we won’t be worried about how well we mowed the lawn or who won the footy in our end days, or if the marshmallow slice tasted good or if my new dress goes with my old shoes, it will be all about how much Love we showed and if we put others first.
Thanks for your encouragement and support Christian Love Anne.
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It’s been a while that I haven’t share a coffee mingled to my friend here! I’ll make sure before I head out for my vacation I’ll spend time eith her maybe at Starbucks.:)
Thanks Ms.Anne
Best regards:)
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Hi Bloggeryenyen so good to hear from you again and yes a Coffee at Starbucks sounds great but a bit far for me to travel. I haven’t forgotten your Rainbow Story, I found my poem but I’m still looking for somthing that might uplift and encourage you. I do have a story about Starbucks perhaps I will post that one first. I have been reading your Blog I find your focus great for a young person and appreciate your passion against injustice, you have a very caring heart.
Thanks again – Christian Love Anne.
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