Friday, December 14, 2007

Something to ponder...



A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective
careers, got together for a visit with their old university professor.
The conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress of
work and life in general.


Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen
and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic
assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal - some plain,
some expensive, some quite exquisite.


Quietly he told them to help themselves to some fresh coffee..
When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the old
professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently address
the small gathering... ''You may have noticed that all of the nicer
looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and
cheaper ones. While it is only natural for you to want only the best
for yourselves, that is actually the source of much of your
stress-related problems."


He continued...''Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to
the coffee. In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we
drink. What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you
instinctively went for the best cups... Then you began eyeing each
other's cups....''


''Now consider this: Life is coffee. Jobs, money, and position in
society are merely cups. They are just tools to shape and contain
Life, and the type of cup we have does not truly define nor change the
quality of the Life we live. Often, by concentrating only on the cup,
we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us... God brews the
coffee, but he does not supply the cups.


Enjoy your coffee!'' The happiest people don't have the best of
everything, they just make the best of everything they have...
So
please remember: Live simply. Love generously. Care Deeply. Speak
Kindly. Leave the Rest to God. And remember - the richest person is
not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.




11 comments:

Anonymous said...

What an awesome Thankful Thursday...your best yet, and so appropriate for this time of the year.

I am going to enjoy my coffee, taking slow sips, and not worry about if it is in a fancy mug or a foam cup...it tastes the same anyway. =)

Love you, Kristin

Mimi said...

Susan,
this was a wonderful post ...
one that we all need to think about...
thank you for making us think about what we want verses what we need...
blessings to you this Christmas
Mimi

Praise and Coffee said...

The happiest people don't have the best of
everything, they just make the best of everything they have...

Love that!!!!
Great post.

Blessings,
Sue

Living Beyond said...

Fabulous post I just love that analogy being the coffee lover that I am. It's so true the externals mean nothing it's what's inside.

Thanks for the great thoughts.

lori said...

Susan that was FABULOUS...I am copying and sending to two people who I know will love it!
thank you so much for sharing...
what a great message!
It really really hit me!

and I'm not sure if I ever told you or not but that pic on the sidebar of you and "the boys" is really awesome!
5 boys....what blessings!
peace! and thank you again!
lori

Anonymous said...

Wonderful thought provoking post!

Thank you for sharing this.

Mine is up at http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2007/12/ministering-to-others-without-much.html if you would like to stop by.

Anonymous said...

Wow! I am a coffee lover and this rang true for me! What a neat way of looking at it. Thank you.....

KIM
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kimalita/

Amico Dio said...

I have always loved this analogy. Thanks for the awesome reminder.

I hope that you are doing well my friend!

Christin said...

Excellent post. Thank you for contributing to the Blog carnival. :)

Sheila said...

Great analogy. I've never heard it before, but so true. Great reminder of what's truly important.
Merry Christmas~
Sheila

Anonymous said...

Dear Susan,

I visit, but have never posted. I LOVED the coffee cup story. I actually did something similar seven years ago at a Christmas ornament exchange. The one I brought was wrapped in a Target plastic bag (neat and clean; but, plain) and the last one picked. The ornament inside was GORGEOUS... it made people think...

Thank you for your ALWAYS encouraging words!

Love and Blessings,
Judy

http://www.caringbridge.org/nc/lisa/