If you haven't received the following or haven't read it online, you have missed a very good lesson. I received it today in a PPS, accompanied by beautiful photographs -- but they almost detract from the message. Thank you for allowing me to present it again, for the message is timeless. The story goes:
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were discussing their lives at a class reunion. They decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired, who was always an inspiration to them. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work, lives and relationships.
Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups. Some cups were porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He invited each to help themselves to the hot chocolate. When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor shared his thoughts.
“Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.”
“The cup that you are drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What each of you really wanted was hot chocolate. You did not want the cup…but you consciously went for the best cups.”
He continued, “Now friends, please consider this…Life is the hot chocolate…your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor does it change, the quality of life you are living.”
“Sometimes, by concentrating on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. Always remember this…God brews the hot chocolate, He does not choose the cup.”
“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have!! 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.”
God gives each of us gifts for His service, but we all receive same, marvelous gifts in the beginning – life at birth, and our new life in Christ when we are born again. If we focus first on His service then choose the container, we can know it will fit perfectly.
1 comment:
Interesting thots! I liked this!
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