The Jar of Life

Once, a philosophy professor stood before his class holding a large empty mayonnaise jar. He proceeded to fill the jar with big rocks until it reached the top and asked his students if it was full.

The students agreed that the jar was indeed full.

The professor then added small pebbles to the jar, giving it a gentle shake so that the pebbles could settle among the larger rocks. Once again, he asked, "Is the jar full now?"

The students once again agreed that the jar was still full.

Next, the professor poured sand into the jar, filling up all the remaining empty spaces.

The students, seeing the jar completely filled, agreed that it was full.

The Metaphor:
In this story, the jar symbolizes your life, while the rocks, pebbles, and sand represent the different things that fill your life. The rocks represent the most important aspects, such as family time and maintaining good health. Even if the pebbles and sand were lost, your life would still have meaning.

The pebbles represent the things that matter but are not essential for a meaningful life. They include your job, house, hobbies, and friendships. While they contribute to your life's meaning, they are not crucial or permanent.

Lastly, the sand represents the filler things and material possessions in your life, like watching TV or running errands. These activities hold little significance in the grand scheme of your life and are often done to pass time or accomplish minor tasks.

The Moral:
The metaphor teaches us that if you fill the jar with sand first, there won't be enough room for the rocks and pebbles. This applies to the things you allow into your life. If you focus solely on insignificant matters, you'll run out of time and energy for the important things. Prioritize the rocks (the essential aspects) and pebbles (the meaningful elements) in your life, and leave room for the sand (the less significant activities). By doing so, you can lead a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

The Desire for Success: Unveiling the Key to Achievement

Once, a young man approached the wise philosopher Socrates, seeking the key to success. Patiently, Socrates listened to the man's inquiry and instructed him to meet by the river the following morning for the answer. True to his word, Socrates met the young man near the river the next day.

Socrates invited the young man to accompany him on a walk towards the river. As they ventured into the water, it gradually rose until it reached their necks. Unexpectedly, much to the young man's astonishment, Socrates submerged him in the water.

Struggling to free himself, the young man fought against the strength of Socrates, desperately trying to escape. But Socrates held him firmly, keeping him submerged until the point where the young man began to turn blue. Sensing the urgency, Socrates lifted the young man's head out of the water, allowing him to gasp for air and take a deep breath.

With a sense of relief, the young man regained his breath. Curious, Socrates posed a question, "What did you desire most while your head was under the water?"

Without hesitation, the young man replied, "Air."

Socrates then imparted his wisdom, saying, "That is the secret to success. When you yearn for success as intensely as you longed for air while submerged, then you will achieve it. There are no other hidden secrets."

The moral of this tale is that a burning desire acts as the initial catalyst for all accomplishments. Similar to how a small fire cannot produce substantial heat, a weak desire will not yield remarkable results.

The Deaf Frog

One day two frogs were hopping in and out of a watering hole and accidentally hopped in an extremely deep hole. 

They tried to leap out, but to no avail had no success, so they began to yell and croak until other frogs heard them and came to help them. 

The other frogs looked over into the hole and said the hole was too deep for them to help, but both frogs kept leaping up the sides of the hole. 

The other frogs, leaning over the hole and waving their front legs, began to yell to the frogs to just give up and die and that there was no hope of them getting out of the hole, but both frogs kept leaping and trying to get out of the hole. 

They leaped for hours and one of the frogs just gave up he was so exhausted and died. 

The other frog in the hole kept leaping, but the other frogs, leaning over the hole, kept yelling and waving their front legs for him to stop and give up, but the frog kept leaping trying to get out of the hole. 

Finally the frog leaped so high that he was able to leap to the top of the hole and used his back legs to push himself up out of the hole. 

The other frogs said even though we told you to give up that there was no hope of you getting out of the hole you kept leaping. The frog that got out of the hole thanked the other frogs for egging him on - the other frogs didn't know that this frog was deaf.

Lesson: Sometimes you have to turn a "deaf ear" to what others tell you is impossible.

You Get What You Give

There was once a farmer who, each week, sold a pound of butter to a baker. After several weeks of buying a pound of butter from the farmer, the baker decided to weigh the butter that he was receiving to ensure it was indeed a full pound. When the baker weighed it, he learned that the butter was under a pound, which enraged him. He felt he was being cheated and he decided to take the farmer to court.

When in court, the judge asked the farmer how he was weighing the butter. The farmer said, “Your Honor, I am poor. I do not own an exact measuring tool. However, I do have a scale.”

The judge then asked if the farmer uses the scale to measure the butter.

The farmer said, “Your Honor, I have been buying a one-pound loaf of bread from the baker since long before he began purchasing butter from me. Whenever the baker brings bread for me, I put it on the scale and then measure out the exact same weight in butter to give him in return. So, if the baker is not getting a pound of butter, he is also not giving a pound of bread like he promised.”

The Moral:

You get what you give. If you try to cheat others out of what you promise them, you will be cheated in return. The more honest you are, the easier it is to trust other people and not suspect they may be cheating you in some way. When you’re honest, not only will other people trust you, but you will also feel more confident in your trust with others. Honesty is always the best route–especially if you want others to be honest with you as well.

THE FOUR SMART STUDENTS.

One night four college students were out partying late night and didn’t study for the test which was scheduled for the next day. In the morning, they thought of a plan.

 

They made themselves look dirty with grease and dirt.

 

Then they went to the Dean and said they had gone out to a wedding last night and on their way back the tire of their car burst and they had to push the car all the way back. So they were in no condition to take the test.

 

The Dean thought for a minute and said they can have the re-test after 3 days. They thanked him and said they will be ready by that time.

 

On the third day, they appeared before the Dean. The Dean said that as this was a Special Condition 

 

Test, all four were required to sit in separate classrooms for the test. They all agreed as they had prepared well in the last 3 days.

 

The Test consisted of only 2 questions with the total of 100

Points:

1) Your Name? __________ (1 Points)

2) Which tire burst? __________ (99 Points)

Options – (a) Front Left (b) Front Right (c) Back Left (d) Back Right

Moral of the story:

Take responsibility or you will learn your lesson.

The Unnoticed Pain of a Father: The Wound of a Father

A true father goes through many unspeakable experiences to continue to be a father.

When he goes out daily in search of bread for his household, he sustains many mental injuries he does not discuss with his family.

 

His wife and children may not be able to stand the pains he goes through if he shares it with them.

 

The insults from his boss, the embarrassment from his customers, the harassment from his superiors, etc.Yet he can't quit.

 

Most times,when he gets home, he is welcomed with nags and unending requests. He gets blamed for not being able to meet up, or for not being able to be like his fellow men.

 

Hmmmm! He is rarely appreciated for his struggles and push just to keep the family together.

 

Some men have secretly dipped their hands in so many things they can't discuss with their families. 

 

Some have stolen, embezzled and borrowed so much that they live in inexpressible guilt everyday.

 

A real father can take anything just to keep food on the table for his household.

 

An adage says ''goat sweats but his hair does not let people see his sweat'. Many men are sweating but no one is seeing their sweat because they have a car, a house, a job, etc.

 

When it comes to celebrating him, it is done casually.

 

He may not have breasts to breastfeed, yet everyone sucks from his unseen breasts. 

 

He may not carry pregnancy for nine months, but he's always pregnant with family needs.

 

He may not know how labor pain feels, but his pains are not physical.

 

Tears may not be in his eyes but he bleeds from inside when he has no means to put food on the table for his household.

 

His shouts, hostility,outbursts and moods are not premeditated, they are the fallout of what he goes through. So, understand him.

 

May God continue to strengthen ALL FATHERS

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO ALL RESPONSIBLE FATHERS.

MOMENT OF REFLECTION

It is a mistake to think time is going. Time is not going. Time is here until the world ends. It is you that is going. You don’t waste time. Time is infinite. You waste yourself. You are finite. It is you that grows old and die. Time doesn’t. So make better use of yourself before you expire. And one of the worst things to do with time is comparing yourself to others. A cow eats grass and gets fat but if dog eats grass, it will die. Never compare yourself with others. Run your race. What works for one person may be that which will kill you. Focus on the gifts and talents God gave you and don’t be envious of the blessings He gave others.

 

Both Lion and Shark are professional hunters, BUT:

A Lion cannot hunt in the Ocean and a Shark cannot hunt in the jungle

That a Lion cannot hunt in the ocean doesn't make him useless and that a Shark cannot hunt in the jungle doesn't also make him useless both have their own territory where they can do well.

If a rose smells better than tomatoes, It doesn't mean the rose can make a better stew. Don't try to compare yourself to others.

 

You also have your own strength, look for it and build on it.

 

All animals that exist, were in Noah's ark. A snail is one of those animals. If God could wait long enough for snails to enter Noah's ark; His door of grace won't close till you reach your expected position in life. Never look down on yourself, keep looking up.

 

Remember that Broken crayons still colour.

Keep on pushing, you never can tell how close you are to your goal...!