By Shirley Tarpley
NDG Staff Writer
One day an expert in a time management class was speaking to a group of business students and to drive home a point, used an illustration those students should never forget.
As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, “Okay, time for a quiz;” the expert pulled out a one-gallon mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar could hold no more rocks, he asked, “Is this jar full?” Everyone in the class yelled, “Yes.” The time management expert replied, “Really?”
He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the fist-sized rocks. He then asked the students once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time the class was on to him. “Probably not,” one of them answered. Good!” he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel.
Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?” “No!” the class shouted. Once again he said, “Good.” Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim.
He looked at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?” One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!” No,” the expert replied, “That’s not the point.” The truth that this illustration teaches us is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.
What are the “big” rocks in your life—time with your loved ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others?”
Remember to put the BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in a all.” So, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the “big rocks” in my life? Then put those in your jar first. –Author Unknown
WHAT GOD WON’T ASK! God won’t ask what kind of fancy car you drove; He will ask how many people you gave rides to who didn’t have transportation. God won’t ask the square footage of your home; He will ask how many people you helped who didn’t have a home.
God won’t ask how many fancy clothes you had in your closet; He will ask how many of those clothes you gave away to the needy. God won’t ask what social class you were in; He will ask what kind of “class” you displayed during your trials and tribulations. God won’t ask how many material possessions you had; He will ask whether those material possessions dictated your life.
God won’t ask how much money you have; He will ask if you trampled over any one to obtain that money. God won’t ask how much overtime you worked; He will ask you if you worked overtime for Him and your family. God won’t ask how many promotions you received; He will ask what you did to promote others.
God won’t ask what your job title was; He will ask did you perform your job to the best of your ability. God won’t ask how many promotions you took to chase a dollar bill; He will ask how many promotions you refused to advance your family’s quality of life. God won’t ask how many times you didn’t run around on your spouse; He will ask how many times you did.
God won’t ask how many academic degrees you had; He will ask how many people you thanked for helping you to get those degrees. God won’t ask what your parents did to help you; He will ask what you did to help your parents. God won’t ask what you did to help yourself; He will ask what you did to help others. God won’t ask how many friends you had; He will ask how many people you were a friend to.
God won’t ask what you did to protect your rights; He will ask what you did to protect the rights of others. God won’t ask what neighborhood you lived in; He will ask what other neighborhoods you visited. God won’t ask how many times you told the truth; He will ask how many times you told a lie.
God won’t ask about the color of your skin; He will ask about the color of your heart. God won’t ask how many times your deeds matched your words; He will ask how many times they didn’t. –Author Unknown
