Why are so many malicious words being uttered around us everyday? Isn’t anyone in our world happy? Just because there are terrible things going on, do we need to add to this horrific mix, our own words of hostility, impatience, vengefulness, pessimism, and loveless-ness?
How did you start your day? Were you crabby, pouting, or hostile? How many people have you affected adversely just in this one day? Surely there has been room for a kind word, a word of forgiveness, and a word of encouragement, praise, comfort, thanks, or sympathy. These words cost us nothing but they can have an enormous impact for healing. Decide to enjoy life no matter what the headlines say. They, too, will pass.
Perhaps this story will bring out my point. No author is noted and I can’t remember where I found it.
A philosophy professor stood before his 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 rocks, about 2" in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The student responded with a unanimous “yes”.
The professor then produced a bottle of red wine from under the table and proceeded to pour 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 rocks are the important things-your faith, your partner, your children, your health, 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, 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 rocks. The same goes for our 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. Pray. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. Take time to get medical checkups. Call an old friend. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, rake the leaves, and fix the disposal."
"Take care of the rocks 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 wine represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. The wine represents the small acts of kindness
and consideration you can offer to those around you. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for an act of kindness."