July 2012 Articles

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Just Rambling, July 2012

Just Rambling: I want to start my column with a story I recently read in the Gospel Tidings magazine. It had been received over the internet without an author attached or an explanation of where the story originated but in our fast paced world of today I thought this story was very appropriate to pass on. I hope you enjoy it and it makes you stop and think about the good things in your life, as it did me.
The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 cups of Coffee When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He proceeded to ask the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He again ask the students if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. Once more, he asked if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “yes”. The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. “Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions-and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else-the small stuff. “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. “Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first-the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.
As this story says the golf balls are the important things in our lives. I want to report on some of the golf balls in my life. My oldest daughter, Velvet, recently completed her fourth cancer treatment and is doing remarkably well. She has now gone back to work and is working fulltime. She is a tough young lady and I am so very proud of her. Thank you for your prayers for her and our family. My second daughter, Brittany, who owns Brittany’s Originals tee shirt shop (see ad on page 19) recently won both the poster design and the tee shirt design for the Louisiana Watermelon Festival. This contest is always very competitive and since Brittany is self-taught I am extremely proud of her winning top honors in both categories.
My son, Cody, who has been teaching in Germany will be returning home on July 1 after a ten month teaching assignment. This teaching assignment was received as a Fulbright Fellowship through our State Department. See Cody’s article on page 18. My third daughter, Avery, has recently started her own business in addition to her regular job. She now buys old furniture, re-finishes it and resale's it. She is doing quite well with her new venture.
My fourth daughter, Dana, continues to attend La. Tech University and is on tract to get an Animal Science degree in three years then intends to get her Masters in Education her fourth year.
My fifth daughter, Blair, who is now a senior in high school was selected to give the commencement speech at the graduation of the Louisiana Young Ag Producers class. This graduation will be held in conjunction with the Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention taking place in New Orleans this week. As you can see from the stories about each of my children that I am a very proud Father. As you read about my children I hope you think about your children, your grandchildren, your spouse and your friends-the golf balls in your life-the really important things. Let us never take these important things for granted and most important of all let us never take the Lord, our God for granted. Through God, all these good things-golf balls are made possible. Van Bennett