My dear cousin Gloria often sends me emails with the inspirational sayings in them. Some how she seems to know what it is I need to hear a the right message seems to just show up at the right time. This is the latest one. I am not sure of the origins or due credit would be given.
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.
Dying mans daily journal 
Great analogy. Yes, we do always take the nicest cups, etc. I went through a period when I actually chose damaged fruit and vegetables, but I no longer do.
The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have.
I think Gloria consults the Big Guy on a bunch of us–and voila’, forward the email so Bill will post it and multi-tasking can happen.
This is a lesson I ‘learned’ long ago. At least I have ‘head knowledge’ of it. Perhaps the ‘heart knowledge’ isn’t solidified in ME yet and that’s why there’s a return to the simple truth about what Mel let’s define her.
And I know (head knowledge) what doesn’t define me.
Sometimes I let go of (heart knowledge) what does.
It’s simple–which, in my humanness, I don’t always embrace.
I’m a child of G-d.
When THAT settles into my heart, all truly is well.
((((((((((( Bill ))))))))))
And thank you, Gloria.
Wise sentiment to live by. Thanks for the reminder.
I had to do some work to believe it was okay to pick a beautiful cup. I can enjoy hot chocolate from either, but I will be grateful for beauty while I savour life.
You’ve made me think Bill. I like how you could say the same sentence but mean it two totally different ways. I have been practicing…
Oops, I meant to post my comment in response to your post about attitude. Hope you know what I meant! But I like cousin Gloria’s post as well, so true.
When it comes to hot chocolate I don’t care if the cup is fancy, but I *will* go for the largest cup! 🙂 Oh, and the analogy is right on.