Hot Chocolate"
>
>
> A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking
> at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now
> retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints
> about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot
> chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large
> pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass,
> crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling
> them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
>
> When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said:
> "Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, 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. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of
> the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some
> cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot
> chocolate, 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 hot chocolate; your job, money and
> position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and
> contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality
> of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail
> to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot
> chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best
> of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have.
> Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly...
>
> And enjoy your hot chocolate.
>

Fran, I'd add this to the post about the passing of my good friend, Winston Walls.

You've identified what's really important, and I appreciate it!


Russ