When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough.

 Remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.

 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 then asked 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 then asked the students again if the

 jar was full. They agreed it was.

 The professor next picked up a boxof sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'

 The professor then produced two Beers 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 ---God, 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. Spend time with your children.

 Spend time with your parents. Visit with grand parents. 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.'

 One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'

 The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.'