A major company offered a seminar on personal time management.

The presenter put a large empty jar on a table. He then placed rocks, tennis ball-size, in it until the jar was full.

He then asked the participants, “Is the jar full.”

“Yes!”

“Are you sure?”

He then pulled out a box of pebbles and poured them in the jar, shaking the jar to the top.

“Is it full now?”

A timid response, “Maybe not.”

He brought out a container of sand and proceeded to fill the jar.

“Is it full now?” There was a resounding, no!

He then took the pitcher of water on the table and filled the jar to the brim.

The instructor then asked, “What’s the great lesson for time management?”

“Even when your schedule is full with a little effort you can always add some other task, some other thing to do.”

“No. It’s not that.

“If you don’t put the big rocks in first then you will never be able to get them in afterward. Don’t let the little things get in the way. What are the big rocks, the priorities in your life? Family? Friends? Health? Job? Some cause close to your heart?”

The Lord is God alone.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart — with all your soul — with all your mind — with all your strength.

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Neighbor? Always the person next to you.

There are a goodly number of people who, sacrificially and unnoticed, give care to others. Perhaps the following “Beatitudes for Caregivers” will be of some interest:

Blessed are those who care and who are not afraid to show it, they will let people know that they are loved.

Blessed are those who are gentle and patient, they will help people to grow.

Blessed are those who have a willingness to listen, they will lighten many a burden.

Blessed are those who recognize their own need to receive, and who receive with graciousness, they will be able to give all the better.

Blessed are those who, when nothing can be said or done, do not walk away, but remain to provide a comforting and supportive presence, they will help the one suffering to bear the unbearable.

Blessed are those who give without the hope of return, they will give others an experience of God.

“You are not far from the kingdom of God.”