I don’t usually post much that is religious in nature, but thought this was very relevant to frugality and simple living. Even if you aren’t Christian, the moral of the story holds true:
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A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: “If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, 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. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink..
What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups… And then you began eyeing each other’s cups.
Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live . Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.”
God brews the coffee, not the cups………. Enjoy your coffee!
“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything they have.”
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.
This is such a wonderful story. I love parables. May I share this in an email?
I’m landing here via the Barber Bunch blog.
That was a wonderful story! 🙂
Thanks for the beautiful reminder, Jenn! It’s so easy to lose sight of what’s important.
Tara @ Deal Seeking Mom
I would also have gone for the expensive cup. AND just for the coffee. Thank you for the lesson and reminder.
Regards, Peg
While I don’t drink coffe, I love the analogy. Do you mind if I re-publish this some time?
Kate
Amen!:):)
Jayne
I like it! This is a great analogy, and it goes along with what our students learned at camp this summer. A theme at youth camp this year was identity. We have to find our identies in Christ, not in our jobs, social status, looks, or whatever. Those other things can be taken away, but if a person has defined his identity through those things, he’ll be left feeling lost and confused. However, if his identity is in Christ, nothing can change that, no matter what life throws at him.
I think I’ll be sharing this story with our youth group. Thanks!
Wow, that is awesome!! Great reminder. 🙂
Good story
Glad you enjoyed it!