The Jar

“No sir, I didn't finish my homework. I ran out of time,” admitted Samantha.
“Some things are too important to ignore,” replied her teacher. “You must complete your homework every day.”

“Sorry I'm returning my library books late,” said Shania. “I didn't have time to read them earlier.”

Mr. Pania sighed. “You've all got 24 hours every day, and 7 days every week. You don't 'find' time for important things. You MAKE time for priorities, so that you can reach your goal.”

When his students came to class the following day, Mr. Pania had a large glass container on his desk. He began placing tennis balls in the jar, asking his pupils to indicate when the jar was full. “It's full now Sir,” they called out.

Silently, Mr. Pania raised a bag of pebbles and carefully trickled them into the jar. He shook it gently and the pebbles rolled into open spaces between the tennis balls.

“Is the jar full yet?” he asked.

“Yes sir!” replied the children.

Now Mr. Pania produced a bucket of sand and slowly poured fine sand into the jar. It filled up all the tiny spaces between the balls and the pebbles.

“Is the jar full yet?” he inquired. “Yes Sir!” they all responded.

Now the teacher took a bottle of water from his bag. He took the cover off and poured one whole litre of water into the jar, where it was soaked up in the sand. All the students began laughing.

Mr. Pania had their attention.

“This jar,” he explained, “represents your life. The tennis balls are the important things—God and your family, your health and your responsibilities. These things are your priorities, and time must be made for them. Then the pebbles fill time and space between the important parts of your life—your sports, entertainment, belongings and fun. Any extra time and space is for the frivolous events and unimportant pastimes, games and hobbies.”

“What would happen if I had poured sand in the jar first?” he asked.

“There wouldn't be enough space for the balls,” answered Samantha.

“That's correct,” beamed Mr. Pania. “Take care of the big things, and then let the little things fill any remaining spaces.”

Shania put up her hand. “What does the water represent Sir?”

Mr. Pania held up the empty bottle. “The water is God. He is part of everything. Remember that whatever your dreams or goals may be, that God should be a part of them,” he said.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33