Thought for the week email

[ReFur]

A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers, got together for a visit with an 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, this is actually the source of much of your stress-related problems. 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 the coffee. Jobs, money, and position in society are merely the 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. So endeavor to enjoy your coffee! The happiest people don't HAVE the best of everything; they just MAKE the best of everything."

 

So please remember: Live simply -- Love deeply -- Care always -- Speak kindly -- And leave the rest to God Who will provide all the rest!

[LordTheNightKnight]

I'm a believer, but that didn't need to mention God at all. Life exists anyway. We don't need to mention God made it all the time.

 

This is to whomever first told this story, not the OP.